（中央社馬尼拉13日綜合外電報導）強力熱帶風暴茉莉（Melor）今天朝菲律賓方向前進，民防官員警告，東岸將受巨浪、洪水和土石流威脅。
氣象預報說，熱帶風暴茉莉明天下午前有可能增強成為颱風，預計衝擊中部薩馬島（Samar Island）。
民防官員巴瑪（Alexander Pama）在搜救官員會議說：「我們不應低估這起風暴構成的危險。」
法新社報導，目前沒有任何撤離行動，但當局說，風暴陣風達每小時140公里，如果衝擊人口150萬的薩馬島，就會進行撤離。風暴今天在太平洋上朝西北西方向行進。
氣象預報說，14日到16日間，風暴眼150公里區域將會有豪雨、洪水和土石流。
茉莉預計將貫穿薩馬島、瑪斯貝特島（Masbate）、馬林杜奎島（Marinduque）和明多羅島（Mindoro Island）後，在16日清晨朝南海馬尼拉附近前進。1041213
Philippine authorities have warned of a powerful tropical storm that is zeroing in on the disaster-prone country with huge waves, flooding and landslides.
Tropical Storm Melor, which moved toward the country on Sunday, has the potential to turn into a full-fledged typhoon by Monday afternoon and is anticipated to pound the central island of Samar that is home to 1.5 million people.
“We should not underestimate the dangers posed by this storm,” said Alexander Pama, the head of the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, at a meeting of rescue officials.
There have been no evacuations yet, but the storm might force the residents of the impoverished farming island from their homes as its strong winds may reach 140 kilometers (87 miles) an hour.
Authorities have also prepared food packs and other emergency items in the areas that are expected to be struck by Melor while the army is put on standby to evacuate people if necessary.
The storm is likely to pass over the islands of Samar, Masbate, Marinduque and Mindoro before heading out to the South China Sea near the capital, Manila, by Wednesday.
Pama said some areas might witness huge crashing waves.
According to the definition by the state weather service, a tropical storm strengthens into a typhoon when its maximum sustained winds are stronger than 120 kilometers. Melor had maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers an hour on Sunday morning.
The Philippines witnesses an average of 20 storms every year, with many of them deadly and destructive.
Super Typhoon Haiyan has so far been the deadliest and strongest as it demolished entire towns in the central islands in November 2013. More than 7,350 people were left dead or missing due to the storm.
The Asian country was battered by Typhoon Koppu in October. It killed over 50 people and forced tens of thousands of others to escape their homes in the northern part of the country.