菲律宾准备应对强台风

A powerful typhoon is taking aim at the central Philippines, where thousands of residents have heeded government warnings to evacuate.

Typhoon Haiyan already has wind gusts of up to 250 kilometers per hour and is expected to strengthen further before making landfall Friday.

Residents, such as Grace Macion, say they will not be taken by surprise by the storm, which is expected to be the region's strongest this year.

Forecasters expect Haiyan to bring heavy rains and powerful winds as it passes the central islands, some of which are still recovering from last month's deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake.

Authorities have suspended ferry operations and told fishing boats to seek shelter. Army troops are also on standby to distribute emergency supplies.