MANILA - Tropical cyclone Ambo (international name Vongfong) has further intensified into a typhoon, as it moved closer towards Eastern Visayas and the Bicol region, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Ambo was spotted at 10 p.m. approximately 245 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar. It was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour near the center with 160 kph gusts.

It was last seen moving west at 15 kph.

PAGASA said the typhoon may pass close to to Northern Samar by Thursday evening before making landfall over Albay-Sorsogon area early Friday morning.

Ambo is expected to bring moderate to intense rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate on Thursday.

On Friday, the typhoon may bring heavy to torrential rains over Bicol region and Northern Samar, and moderate to heavy rains over Calabarzon, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro.

Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall, said PAGASA.

The weather agency said damaging gale to storm force winds may affect Samar provinces and Biliran by Thursday morning; Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate Thursday evening, and Camarines provinces by early morning Friday.

Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over the following areas:

• Northern Samar
• northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpio, Can-avid, Taft)
• northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanjan, San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan)

PAGASA said winds of 61-120 kilometers per hour and intermittent rains may be expected in at least 24 hours in these areas.

Signal No. 1 was also raised over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar and Biliran.

PAGASA said winds of 30-60 kilometers per hour and intermittent rains may be expected in at least 36 hours in these areas.

Rough seas meanwhile will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas today. Sea travel is risky over these areas, said PAGASA.

Residents in these areas were advised by the weather bureau to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring updates.

Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for more updates.