MANILA, Nov. 9 -- Uwan (international name Fung-wong) has intensified into a super typhoon, threatening to unleash catastrophic winds and flooding as it barrels toward Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said Sunday.

At 7 a.m., Uwan was spotted 125 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gusts of up to 230 kph. It is moving west-northwest at 25 kph, on track to make landfall over Aurora province by tonight or early Monday.

The state weather bureau warned that the cyclone could bring violent winds, torrential rain, and storm surges up to three meters high.

A direct hit on Catanduanes remains possible if the cyclone shifts slightly wes...