Typhoon Hagupit is expected to hit the Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines Saturday, bringing torrential rains and 3- to-4-meter-high storm surges, according to the local weather bureau.
Ports were shut down across the Philippines, leaving thousands of travelers stranded, and some local governments ordered evacuations.
More than 2,000 passengers were stuck in ports in Manila, the central Philippines and Mindanao island in the south after the coastguard stopped sea travel ahead of the Category 5 storm, which could hit areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan last year.
On Thursday, the government said it was considering declaring a state of national emergency to freeze prices of basic goods. Amid reports of panic-buying of basic supplies, President Benigno Aquino ordered the trade department to send more food supplies to provinces at risk.