A powerful, slow-moving typhoon is swirling toward the Philippines, raising the threat of torrential rains and possibly catastrophic flooding on the main island of Luzon.

Forecasters predict Typhoon Koppu will make landfall early Sunday, and could stall once it arrives, dumping as much as 600 millimeters of rain over the next several days.

As of midday Saturday, the storm had sustained winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, and was expected to continue strengthening before hitting the country.

But the biggest threat could come from rain and the resulting floods, landslides and storm surges, according to forecasters.

Preparing for Koppu

Authorities have begun canceling flights and are urging residents and tourists in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations, though it is not clear how many have evacuated.

Koppu is not expected to hit the capital, Manila, directly. It will instead likely sweep across the northern end of Luzon.

President Benigno Aquino on Friday appeared on national television to warn residents about the storm.

“It is clear, your government is here in order to ensure that we will meet our goal of zero casualties. But I must emphasize, each local government unit, community, and Filipino that will be affected has the duty to cooperate in the collective action we are taking to overcome the challenges ahead,” he said.

It is the first time Aquino has issued a nationally televised warning about a typhoon since November 2013 when Typhoon Haiyan swept through the country, leaving more than 7,000 people dead or missing.

About 20 typhoons and storms hit the Philippines each year, many of them deadly.
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