Videos and images shared on social media show damaged structures, trees swayed by powerful winds and heavy rain.

A thunderstorm advisory was issued Thursday in parts of Luzon (the country’s largest and most populous island, home to the capital Manila), including in the Metropolitan Manila area, which is comprised of 16 cities, as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Bulacan and Pampanga, PAGASA noted in a post on its official Twitter account.

The northern portion of Samar province and southern portion of Northern Samar province are expected to be affected by the eyewall of the typhoon in the next few hours, PAGASA notes.

The eyewall is a “band or ring of cumulonimbus clouds that surround the eye, or light-wind center of a tropical cyclone,” the National Weather Service explains.

Heavy to intense rain will hit the provinces of Samar, Masbate, Sorsogon and Catanduanes later today, while moderate to, at times, heavy and intense rainfall is expected in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur in the Bicol region and the rest of Eastern Visayas region.

Heavy rain will continue Friday in Bicol, while moderate to heavy rain will hit other provinces and regions including Northern Samar, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque and Romblon tomorrow.

“Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall,” PAGASA warns.

“Within 24 hours, storm surge of 2.0 to 4.0 meters may be experienced over the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar (east coast), Samar (west coast), Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora. Along with large swells, this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation.”

The Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) level has been raised to level three in various parts of Luzon, including the provinces of Sorsogon, Albay, including Ticao and Burias Islands, Catanduanes and the southern portion of Camarines Sur.

The TCWS has also been raised to level three in Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar region and Mindanao, the country’s second-largest island.

“A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. Winds of greater than 121 km/h up to 170 km/h may be expected in at least 18 hours,” PAGASA notes.

“Ambo bakit ka ganyan Grabe ka naman. Lord God, protect those people that are affected by the typhoon. Praying for everyone’s safety. Kuha po ito ni Kristuff Nebrida from Arteche Eastern Samar. #AmboPH #TyphoonAmbo,” wrote @jennlyalzate

“Guys #Ambo is literally shaking rn. | Damages brought by typhoon #AmboPH on it’s landfall in Eastern Samar,” wrote @_speedlane.

“Happening now. Dere pa landfall linalasorbo na it San Policarpo, E. Samar ni Ambo,” Cuarenta Eh Siete on Facebook.

Twitter user @purajoyanne shared video of the storm in the Bicol region: “9:00 am | Gubat, Sorsogon Praying for everyone’s safety,” she wrote.

“Looks amazing but scary at the same time. The strength of #AmboPH is undeniable, just look at the coconut trees swaying like crazy. #Vongfong,” wrote @PhresEvardone.

The Philippines has been in lockdown following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The lockdown in Manila has been extended to June, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Tuesday. Measures will be eased in parts of the country that are thought to be lower-risk areas, with certain essential financial activities to be allowed in the capital.

The country has seen at least 11,876 confirmed cases, including 790 deaths, as of Thursday, the Philippines’ health ministry reports.

Last month, Duterte warned that anyone defying lockdown measures could be shot by the military or the police.