Typhoon Yolanda now a category 5 storm as it heads straight to the Central Philippines

The very powerful super-typhoon, Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) is on a collision course with the Eastern Visayas area of the Philippines packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kph, with gusts up to 250 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) update earlier this morning.

Typhoon Yolanda map
Image/PAGASA

The weather agency says the typhoon is 135 km southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 2 am, November 8(Philippines time).

It is forecast to move west-northwest at 33 kph and make landfall in the Eastern Visayas Friday morning.

The storm is so large in diameter that clouds from it are affecting two-thirds of the country.

The following areas of the archipelago are at Storm Signal No. 4: Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte Biliran Province, extreme Northern Cebu including Bantayan Island, Capiz, Aklan, Northern Antique.

GMA News reports that Dr. Flaviana Hilario, acting deputy director for R&D of PAGASA has confirmed that Super typhoon Yolanda is the strongest typhoon in the world in 2013, prompting thousands from the Visayan Islands to evacuate.

In a speech Thursday, President Benigno S. Aquino III warned residents of the “calamity our countrymen will face in these coming days.”

“Let me repeat myself: This is a very real danger, and we can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare,” he said.

To get current and accurate weather uppdates during Yolanda, PAGASA has deployed weather specialists to disseminate the information. In addition, these advisories will be translated in the local dialect for easy dissemination and understanding by the media and the public.

Typhoon Yolanda comes just over three weeks after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Visayan island of Bohol killing hundreds.

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