Typhoon Usagi has wind speeds of up to 175 km/h (109 mph).
The
Philippines and Taiwan are braced for Typhoon Usagi, which
meteorologists say could become the most powerful typhoon of 2013.
The typhoon was 560km (350 miles) east-southeast of Taiwan
and 360km (225 miles) from the northern Philippines on Friday morning,
weather officials said.
Both Taiwan and the Philippines have issued alerts and warned boats to exercise caution.
Typhoon Usagi had wind speeds of up to 175 km/h (110 mph) and
gained strength early on Friday, Pagasa, the Philippine government's
weather agency, said.
Philippine officials have issued storm warnings for flash flooding, landslides and storm surges for several northern provinces.
Emergency and health personnel in some provinces have also
been placed on standby, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council said.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a land
warning on Friday morning, and forecast heavy rainfall for northern and
eastern Taiwan.
China's State Oceanic Administration has issued a class I
emergency response for the typhoon, its highest maritime disaster
response level, state media report.
China's National Meteorological Centre has also issued a yellow alert in its weather warning system.
In August, at least two people died and thousands lost their homes after Typhoon Utor hit the northern Philippines.
