Typhoon "Emong" (international codename Chan-hom) grew stronger before noon Thursday, forcing weather bureau PAGASA to place more areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, under storm alerts.

PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m., "Emong" was 200 kilometers west northwest of Iba town, Zambales province or 240 km west southwest of Dagupan City.

It was moving at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and gusts of up to 170 kph.

PAGASA hoisted public storm signal No. 3 over the western part of Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Sur. The rest of Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra and Ilocos Norte were placed under Signal No. 2.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Metro Manila, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Lubang Island, Calamian Group of Islands, Cavite, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, northern part of Quezon, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino, Isabela, Cagayan, Babuyan Island and Batanes Group of Islands.

PAGASA said "Emong" will move near Vigan City by Friday morning and then hover near Aparri, Cagayan and Basco, Batanes on Saturday and Sunday.

Emong entered the country Thursday night, a day after Typhoon "Dante" left the country with 27 people dead and eight missing.

PAGASA said residents in areas with storm alerts should prepare for flashfloods and landslides.