Mitag Strengthens Into Typhoon As It Races Toward Philippines

Typhoon Mitag strengthened over the Pacific Ocean as it headed for the Philippines, the second cyclone in a week to threaten the country, the U.S. Navy said.

The eye of Mitag, the 24th storm of the northwest Pacific cyclone season, was 606 kilometers (377 miles) east of the city of Daet on Luzon Island at 2 p.m. local time today, the U.S. Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center said.

Winds were blowing at 148 kilometers per hour, with gusts to 185 kilometers per hour, the center's advisory said. Mitag was moving west at 17 kilometers per hour, and waves were as high as 7 meters in the vicinity of its eye.