Kiko slightly intensifies as it moves southwestward over Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Kiko continues to intensify as it moves southwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather service said on Wednesday.

Pagasa, on its 11 a.m. bulletin, said the eye of Typhoon Kiko is located 1,120 kilometers east of Central Luzon, packing sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and with gustiness of up to 190 kph.

Kiko is moving west-southwestward at 20 kph.

No tropical cyclone wind signal was raised in any areas in the country yet because of Typhoon Kiko, said Pagasa.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) will be hoisted for several provinces in Northern Luzon, with higher wind signal levels possible over extreme Northern Luzon, beginning tonight or tomorrow morning.

Kiko entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday and is expected to pass near the southern coast of Taiwan on Saturday before making landfall in the vicinity of southeastern China on Sunday evening or Monday morning, according to the state weather bureau.