Manila, Sept. 26 -- Tropical cyclone Opong (international name Bualoi) has intensified into a typhoon as it approaches Eastern Visayas on Thursday night.

As of 10 p.m., the center of Opong was tracked over the coastal waters of Dolores, Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

It has maximum sustained winds of 120 km. per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 165 kph. It is moving west northwest at 25 kph.

Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 will experience storm-force winds of up to 118 to 184 kph in the next 12 hours -- Sorsogon and the eastern portion of Masbate (Cataingan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, Mobo, City of Masbate, Baleno, Aror...