MANILA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Super typhoon Noru made landfall in Quezon province, south of Manila, on Sunday afternoon, bringing heavy rain and severe winds to the Philippine capital and several areas on the main Luzon island.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Noru, which strengthened into a super typhoon at dawn on Sunday, made landfall in the vicinity of Burdeos town.
Metro Manila, home to over 13 million people, is under cyclone wind signal 4, the second highest wind threat. At least six provinces in Noru's direct path are under signal 5.
The state bureau warned of widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides. Areas under signals 4 and 5 will "experience winds peaking at typhoon-force strength," the state weather bureau said.
Authorities urged coastal and landslide-prone residents to evacuate safely as the typhoon approached.
"There is a very high risk of storm surge more than 3 meters in height in the low-lying and exposed coastal areas (in Quezon and Aurora provinces)," the bureau warned.
Noru is the 11th cyclone to enter the Philippines. The cyclone was blowing westward at 20 km per hour, packing winds of 195 kilometers per hour.
"Noru is forecast to track generally west-southwestward or westward in the next six to 12 hours, then west-northwestward for the remainder of the day," the bureau said.
The Philippine Coast Guard said over 2,500 passengers, drivers and cargo helpers are stranded in ports in the Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions, including 39 rolling cargoes, 18 vessels and 15 motorboats.
Almost 50 international and domestic flights were canceled due to bad weather, airport authorities said.
On Sunday, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos ordered the suspension of government work and classes at all levels on Monday before Noru made landfall.
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is among the most disaster-prone countries globally, with active volcanoes, frequent earthquakes and an average of 20 typhoons a year, causing floods and landslides.
Nearly three-fourths of the country's population is vulnerable to multiple natural hazards, and such disasters worsen poverty in typhoon-prone provinces along the country's eastern seaboard.
In recent years, the Philippines has been hit by several major disasters, including super typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed over 7,000 people. ■