(CNN) -- Rain lashed parts of the Philippines on Saturday as Typhoon Hagupit barreled toward the coast, bringing roaring winds and the threat of massive storm surges.
Satellite images show the
eye of the storm, which lost its super typhoon status again Saturday,
about 250 kilometers (150 miles) off the eastern coast of the island
nation.
The storm, the strongest
so far this year, is expected to make landfall Saturday evening or
Sunday morning, local time, over the Eastern Samar to Northern Samar
area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It's packing sustained winds of 195 kilometers an hour (313 mph) near the storm's center, with gusts of up to 230 kph (370 mph).
Public storm warning signals
have been applied in a number of provinces amid predictions winds could
rip off roofs, cut power and damage buildings. Residents in low-lying
areas have been warned about possible flash floods and landslides.
Preparing for the worst
While current forecasts show the storm skirting north of Tacloban, the people there aren't taking any chances.
They suffered enormously
when Super Typhoon Haiyan smashed into the coast last November, killing
more than 6,000 people and creating apocalyptic scenes of splintered
houses, ships on streets and and debris piles for as far as the eye
could see.
Tacloban Mayor Alfred
Romualdez said they're better prepared this year after learning the
lessons of Haiyan a year ago. Residents are taking the storm warnings
seriously and most people have fled the city, he said.
This time, Hagupit, known locally as Typhoon Ruby, is expected to cross the coast farther north, toward Legazpi.
Officials there expected to evacuate an estimated 75,000 people ahead of the typhoon's arrival, Mayor Noel Rosal said Friday.
"There's a danger that there will be heavy rains for about four hours and I am very, very worried at this moment," Rosal said.
Most forecasters predict
the storm will move northwest through the island nation after landfall,
passing south of the capital city of Manila. PAGASA projects that the
storm will exit the country on Wednesday.
Hagupit, the name used by World Meteorological Organization, means "lash" in Filipino.