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 | | The storm is expected to sweep past the Philippines, building strength as it heads north towards Taiwan |
Officials in the Philippines are warning of possible landslides as a powerful typhoon building over the western Pacific passes close to the country.
Typhoon Sepat was passing close to the country on Thursday, building strength as it heads north towards Taiwan which is bracing for a possible direct hit.
Forecasters said the storm was generating sustained winds of 185kph and gusts of up to 220kph, making it the strongest typhoon in the region so far this year.
In the Philippine capital, Manila, schools have been closed for two days while the city has been lashed by rains caused by the storm.
Severe flooding hit several parts of the capital, shutting businesses and government offices and adding to the city's already chronic traffic problems.
Several roads outside the city were submerged under water up to 1.5 metres deep. Super typhoon ![The storm has already triggered heavy rains and flooding in parts of Manila [Reuters]](http://mwcnews.net/images/stories/Sci-Tech2/5/The-storm-2.jpg "The storm has already triggered heavy rains and flooding in parts of Manila [Reuters]") | | The storm has already triggered heavy rains and flooding in parts of Manila [Reuters] |
As of early Thursday, forecasters said the storm was moving in a northwesterly direction and would pass close to the northernmost province of Batanes on Saturday, but would not make a direct hit. If it follows that course it would then churn towards southern Taiwan and mainland China, although typhoons are hard to predict. Taiwan has already issued a sea warning and told fisherman to return to port. Philippine officials say Sepat could become even more powerful, becoming a super typhoon as it passes the country. "It can wash out everything not made of cement or steel with that wind," Philippine government forecaster Lucrecio About said. Last week a series of storms triggered landslides and flooding in rural areas of Luzon, killing at least eight people, civil defence officials said.
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Tags: Landslide Philippines
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