MANILA, Nov. 27 -- Typhoon Koto (formerly Verbena) has maintained its strength, packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 170 kph, the weather bureau said in its 5 p.m. bulletin on Thursday.

The typhoon was last tracked 265 kilometers north northwest of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). It is moving westward at 15 kph.

Strong winds continue to prevail across Kalayaan Islands, where Signal No. 1 is still hoisted, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday, PAGASA forecaster Benison Estareja said Koto is enhancing t...