The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has issued a high alert early Saturday morning as tropical storm Fung-Wong approaches the southern tip of Taiwan, threatening to bring gales and heavy rain throughout the weekend.

As of 8 a.m., the eye of the storm was spotted some 320 kilometers south of Taiwan and expected to move northwards up the island, the CWB said.

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Tropical Storm Fung-Wong is packing 90 kilometers per hour of sustained winds, with gustiness of up to 119 kilometers per hour, the bureau said. Fung-Wong is projected to engulf the entire island by Sunday.

The bureau warned of strong winds and heavy rains in the eastern and southern parts of the island. It has also issued warning of strong waves along the sea coast, urging boats in the Bashi Channel and the island's southern waters to be on high alert.

The storm slightly intensified, moving north-northwest at 11 kilometers per hour and is projected to pick up speed of up to 15 kilometers per hour, the bureau said.

There is concern that the storm's changed track will bring massive damage to the coastal plains in the western half of the island, which does not have protection against strong wind gusts.

Fung-Wong is the first tropical storm to hit Taiwan this year. As of latest forecast, Fung-Wong has indicated some weakening and depending on its exact track, it could make landfall in China, just south of Shanghai on Tuesday morning or dissipate closer to the Ryukyu Islands in Japan.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, hundreds of thousands were affected as Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, known locally as Mario, brought over a foot of rain in the northern island of Luzon.

The worst-hit areas include Central and Southern Luzon, Ilocos Region, the Cordillera region, and Manila. As of 5 a.m., 300 areas remained flooded and less than a hundred roads and bridges were not passable.

Five had reportedly died, including two children, and one is still missing, according to authorities from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

TagsStorm Mario, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Typhoon Fung-Wong