Manila: According to a media source, tens of thousands of residents in the central and southern Philippines are being evacuated as typhoon Rai approaches the country.

As of 0500 GMT, Typhoon Rai is "rapidly intensifying" as it approaches the island provinces of Dinagat and Surigao in the country's mid-eastern region, according to Al Jazeera, citing the latest assessment from the Philippine meteorological service, PAGASA.

Rai, the country's 50th typhoon this year, has been classified as a super typhoon by the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). PAGASA has recommended sailors to stay in port or seek cover, stating that the sea conditions are dangerous for all ships.

As of 0200 GMT, the wind speed had increased to 185 km (115 miles) per hour near the centre, with gusts up to 230 km (143 miles) per hour, moving west-northwest, according to PAGASA.

According to the national disaster mitigation agency, NDRRMC, eight regions in the Philippines have been placed on the highest level of emergency preparedness and response procedure. According to reports, these eight regions, which are located in the centre and southern group of islands in the Visayas and Mindanao provinces, are home to more than 30 million people.

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