Durian, named after the pungent Asian fruit, was expected to make landfall on the eastern province of Catanduanes Thursday morning and unleash "strong rain and winds and possible storm surges," the state weather bureau said.

"This is a super typhoon already. This is enough to blow away a house," weather bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said on DZBB radio.

"All regional, provincial and municipal disaster coordinating councils are on full alert," he said.

Typhoon alert signal number four has been hoisted over Cantanduanes.

Durian was also expected to wreak havoc in Manila and nearby provinces as well as large parts of Luzon island, the bureau said.

The presidential palace ordered all schools to be suspended in the capital and affected provinces Thursday, as well as provinces in the eastern seaboard.

Bureau forecaster Bobby Rivera said the typhoon had increased its threat to central Luzon.

Flood and landslide alerts have already been issued in central and northern Luzon.

Eight typhoons and tropical storms have hit the Philippines so far this year.

Earlier this month, the northern Philippines was hit by typhoon Chebi, which left more than eight people dead.

In October, typhoon Xangsane, the strongest in more than 10 years, slammed into Manila and Luzon, leaving as many as 200 people dead or missing and cutting power off to several provinces for weeks.

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