Manila, May 28 (EFE).- Mawar lost intensity as it approached the Philippines on Sunday, and was downgraded from super typhoon to typhoon.
However, Mawar, locally called Betty, is expected to cause rains and possible flooding over the next few days.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that the eye of the typhoon was located 815 kilometers east of Central Luzon, with sustained winds of up to 175 kilometers per hour at 5am local time.
Northern Luzon, the most populous island in the Philippines and where the capital Manila is located, is expected to receive continuous rainfall, with strong winds and possible landslides caused by Betty until Tuesday morning.
The Batanes archipelago, north of Luzon, will be affected by Betty until Wednesday.
The authorities have recommended the people to prepare for possible evacuations, reinforce doors and windows of their houses, and turn off electronic devices, according to local media reports.
Philippine Airlines announced Saturday that it had canceled around a dozen domestic flights over the next few days.
After passing through the Philippines, Mawar/Betty is expected to continue in a north-northeast direction towards Taiwan, China and South Korea, where its impact is expected to be minimal.
Betty is the second tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year. The archipelago expects up to 10 to enter its monitoring area this year due to El Niño.
The cyclone is heading for Philippines landfall after hitting the island of Guam, a US territory in the west Pacific, where it has left a trail of destruction despite no reported fatalities or serious injuries.
