Later in the day, the Japan Meteorological Agency said it's now classified as a "violent typhoon," the highest mark in its wind intensity scale. Pepito is more likely to make landfall in Catanduanes on Saturday evening or early morning of Sunday,

The Philippines evacuated tens of thousands of people from their homes and cancelled dozens of flights on Saturday, as a super typhoon threatened to unleash heavy rains and powerful winds that could trigger floods and storm surges.

Tropical cyclone Man-yi has strengthened into a super typhoon, threatening to bring intense rains and high waves on the Philippines’ main island that’s still reeling from a string of storms in recent weeks.