Another powerful typhoon is bearing down on the central Philippines, which is still recovering from a deadly super typhoon last year.
Weather forecasters warn Typhoon Hagupit, with sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 240 kilometers per hour, is expected to slam into East Samar province on Saturday.
East Samar and other central provinces were devastated last year by Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 7,300 people and was measured as the most powerful storm ever recorded on land.
In a meeting with emergency officials Thursday, President Benigno Aquino ordered steps to prevent panic buying and food hoarding. He also called for officials to "prepare for everything."
Authorities have started evacuations along the country’s east coast and some schools are closed.
The Southeast Asian nation has faced unusually severe storms in the past few years, including Typhoon Bopha that killed or left more than 1,900 people missing in 2012.
