(MENAFN- The Peninsula) JAKARTA: Aid agencieswere on standby on Wednesday to respond to the strongest typhoonto threaten the Philippines in three years, which was due tomake landfall later in the day with widespread damage expected.
Typhoon Haima has been labelled a category 5 storm on ascale of 1 to 5 by Tropical Storm Risk and could cause flooding,landslides and storm surges of up to five metres (16.5ft), theweather bureau said.
The Philippine authorities have raised storm warning signalsfor the northern and eastern parts of main island of Luzon, andordered evacuation with some flights suspended and sea travelbanned.
Save the Children said it has stockpiles of relief items -including emergency shelter kits, hygiene kits, water andsanitation items - which are kept in warehouses and ready to bedispatched.
"Typhoon Haima is bearing down on the northern Philippinesand looks capable of causing significant damage to homes, andcommunity infrastructure," the aid agency's country director forthe Philippines Ned Olney said.
"With such powerful winds and many homes situated along thecoast, the potential for damage is high."
Olney said the children's charity was concerned about theimpact of the storm on children, who are particularly vulnerableduring emergencies.
The Philippine Red Cross said its staff and emergencyresponse teams have been placed on "high alert" and are ready todeploy as Haima could have "significant humanitarian impact" ifit continues on its projected course.
The aid agency was working with the International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to readytarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats and other essentials for20,000 families.
Typhoon Haima poses a serious threat to local food security,as Central Luzon is where most of the country's rice is grown.
"The country's major river and catch basins are also locatedin Luzon, which could overflow if heavy rains continue," theIFRC said in a statement.
Children's charity Plan International also said it was onstandby to families in the typhoon's path were given food,shelter, clean water and basic sanitation as quickly aspossible.
Haima was approaching the Philippines with maximum sustainedwinds of 225kph and gusts of 315kph, according to weatherofficials.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-hit countries inthe world, suffering an average of 20 major typhoons each year.Haima is the 12th typhoon to hit the Southeast Asian nation thisyear.
Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated the central Philippines in2013 and killed at least 6,000 people.
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