Two provinces were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number One as Typhoon ''Francisco'' rapidly intensified while moving towards Southern Japan.

The state weather bureau raised the signal number one over the areas of "Batanes, the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana) including the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands.

''Francisco'' with maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 190 km/h was last spotted at 620 km East of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

The typhoon is moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

"'Francisco' will move generally northwestward until tomorrow (23 June) before recurving north northeastward towards the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan," the bureau said.

It also added that the typhoon will remain far from the Philippine landmass until it "exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday (26 June)".

"Francisco will further intensify and may reach its peak intensity by tomorrow. Thereafter, a weakening trend is expected," the bureau said.

"The potential for Francisco to reach the Super Typhoon category is not ruled out," it added. Robina Asido/PHS