MANILA - Typhoon Queenie has maintained its strength as it continues to move northwest, state weather bureau PAGASA said early Wednesday.

PAGASA weather specialist Chris Perez said the typhoon's trough or extension will bring scattered rainshowers in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

In its 5 a.m. press briefing, PAGASA said the eye of Queenie (international name Kong-rey) was located some 875 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

Queenie continues to pack maximum sustained winds of 200 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 245 kph.

If it continues to move northwest at a speed of 20 kph, Queenie is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday, October 5, PAGASA said.

The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) on Tuesday classified Queenie as a super typhoon, based on 1-minute instrumental readings.

PAGASA has lower figures because it uses 10-minute readings similar to the standard used by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Kong-rey is the fifth Category 5 typhoon this year after Maria (local name Gardo), Jebi (Maymay), Mangkhut (Ompong), and Trami (Paeng).

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