Philippines braces as Megi becomes super typhoon

A typhoon nearing the Philippines intensified into a super typhoon packing winds of more than 250kph (155mph) on Sunday, and evacuations began as 20 provinces were placed on alert before it makes landfall on Monday.

Typhoon Megi would be felt on Sunday in the north of Luzon, a rice and corn growing area on the Philippines main island, and the government advised the up to 7 million people in its direct path to stock up on food and medicine.

Government forecasters said that waves off the east coast could be greater than 14 metres (46ft), and advised against travel to the region as Megi could bring flash flooding, landslides and storm surges. Manila was not expected to be affected by the typhoon.

Tropical Storm Risk said Megi had intensified into a category 5 super typhoon, the highest rating, with winds of more than 250 kph and would retain that strength as it crossed north Luzon.

The governor of northern Cagayan, Alvaro Antonio, told Reuters the typhoon could cause great damage to the rice crop.                                            "Based on our estimates, about 50-60% of our rice production could either be destroyed or damaged. We are the top producer of rice," he said.

The Cagayan valley produces about of a third of the country's rice. The head of the state grain agency said last month that rice output would be about 3.2 million tonnes short of a projected 17.4 million tonnes this year.

Last year, the country lost 1.3 million tonnes of paddy rice following three strong typhoons in September and October, prompting it to go to the market early to boost its rice stocks.

Megi, the 10th and strongest tropical storm to hit the country this year, was about 490km (305 miles) east of northern Luzon and moving at 22kph towards Cagayan province, government weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said on Sunday.

"Typhoon Juan further intensified, but slowed down a bit as it headed westward towards Cagayan," Aurelio told a news conference, using the local name for Megi. "It could further gain strength over the water before slamming into land."                                            Megi could dump rains as heavy as typhoon Ketsana, which inundated 80% of Manila in 2009, he said.

Dozens of people living along the coast, near river banks and low-lying areas in the northern Cagayan and Isabela provinces have started moving to higher grounds, Benito Ramos, head of the national disaster agency, told reporters.

Trucks, rubber boats, amphibious vehicles and generators were sent to the north to help in the rescue and relief operations, he added. Schools in the north will be closed on Monday.

Megi was expected to pass over northern Luzon on Monday and head out to the South China Sea on Tuesday, moving towards China.

In July, a typhoon killed 102 people. It unexpectedly changed direction and sliced through Manila, cutting power across the sprawling metropolis of 12 million people, prompting President Benigno Aquino to sack the chief weather forecaster.