Typhoon Tisoy careens towards the country. RAMMB Himawari-8 imagery

MANILA - Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri) maintained its strength while advancing towards Bicol region, state weather bureau PAGASA said Saturday.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the typhoon was spotted approximately 995 kilometers east of Virac town, Catanduanes, packing 150 kph maximum sustained winds near the center and 185 kph gusts.

PAGASA said Tisoy is projected to make landfall over Bicol region between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

The weather bureau said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) no. 1 may be raised over Camarines Sur, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Island, Camotes Island and Leyte Sunday morning, as these areas will likely experience winds of 30 kph up to 60 kph.

On Monday, occasional to frequent heavy rains will prevail over Bicol region, Samar provinces, and Biliran. Moderate to occasional heavy rains, meanwhile, will fall on Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon.

On Tuesday, frequent to continuous heavy rains will be experienced in Metro Manila, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan. Moderate to occasional heavy rains, meanwhile, will fall on the rest of Luzon.

Residents in the aforementioned areas, especially those living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to flooding and rain-induced landslides, are advised to take appropriate actions, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, PAGASA said.

Sea travel is risky, especially for small sea craft, over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, the northern and western seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of the country due to prevailing or forecast rough sea conditions.