The Philippines evacuated tens of thousands of people from their homes and cancelled dozens of flights on Saturday, as a super typhoon threatened to unleash heavy rains and powerful winds that could trigger floods and storm surges.

The country’s weather agency is warning of life-threatening tidal surges of up to nearly 10 feet, urging all ships to remain in port or immediately take shelter.

Severe Tropical Storm Man-yi, known as Pepito in the Philippines, will strengthen into a typhoon with the strength of Category 4 Saffir-Simpson storm before hitting the island nation on Sunday, AccuWeather meteorologists say.