‘Karen’ now a typhoon

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MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm ” Karen” intensified into a typhoon while still over the East Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Thursday.

Karen was spotted 760 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It was moving northwest at 13 kph.

Karen will enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over the western section of Visayas and Mindanao.

Fishing boats and small vessels were advised not to venture into the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.

Karen is forecast to be 600 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City by Friday morning; 420 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes by Saturday morning; and 320 kilometers east of Southern Taiwan by Sunday morning, Pagasa said.