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.

台风海燕的阵风风速已经高达每小时250公里，在周五登陆可能会前进一步加强。

格雷斯.梅西恩和其他当地居民说，这场台风不会让他们措手不及，本次台风有望成为该地区今年最强的风暴。

气象预报预计台风海燕在经过中部岛屿时将带来暴雨和强风，其中一些岛屿仍在从上个月造成人员伤亡的7.2级地震灾害的恢复当中。

当局已经暂停渡轮业务并告诫渔船寻求庇护。军队也随时待命，准备分发应急物资。