The storm was located about 375 km (230 miles) northeast of Aparri in Cagayan province before midday on Tuesday, packing sustained winds of up to 175 kph (110 mph), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Mekkhala was moving northwest at around 10 kph (6 mph) and was not forecast to make landfall in the Philippines. However, forecasters warned that its extensive rain bands and strong winds could affect eastern coastal areas of Cagayan and the island province of Batanes, raising the risk of localized flooding, landslides and hazardous marine conditions.

Authorities hoisted the lowest level of the country’s five-tier tropical cyclone wind warning system across northeastern coastal areas, while maritime restrictions were imposed to prevent small vessels and fishing boats from venturing into rough seas.

Disaster-response agencies and local government units were placed on heightened alert in communities considered vulnerable to flooding and slope failures. Emergency personnel were instructed to monitor weather developments closely and prepare for possible evacuations if conditions deteriorate.

Forecast models indicated that the typhoon would pass closest to Batanes on Wednesday at a distance of about 275 km (170 miles) offshore before continuing northward along Taiwan’s eastern coastline. The storm is then expected to track toward Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu later in the week.

Although the cyclone is projected to remain over open waters, weather officials cautioned that strong winds, heavy rainfall and large waves could still affect northern Philippine provinces as the system moves through the western Pacific.

The Philippines is among the world’s most disaster-prone nations, facing an average of about 20 tropical cyclones annually. The archipelago is also situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic activity and other natural hazards.

The report by UNICEF said it cross-referenced population data of roughly 2.4 billion children with the geographic distribution of eight major climate hazards, including coastal flooding, river flooding, drought, tropical storms, heat waves, extreme heat, wildfires and sandstorms.

It found that around 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three climate hazards, with the most common combination being drought, extreme heat above 35 degrees Celsius, and heat waves. That specific combination alone affects about 296 million children globally.

The report highlighted that exposure is heavily concentrated in parts of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries with large child populations, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, account for some of the highest absolute numbers of affected children.

Nigeria alone has about 74 million children exposed to at least three hazards, while Pakistan has 34 million and India 32 million, according to the report.

It also found that nearly all children globally — about 2.3 billion — are exposed to at least one climate hazard, while 2 billion face at least two and 364 million are exposed to four or more.

The report warned that 123,000 children face seven or more climate hazards, including about 46,000 in Myanmar, underscoring extreme exposure in some regions.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said children are “at the forefront of the impact of climate change,” according to the report, which also noted that vulnerability is intensified in countries with limited capacity to respond to disasters.

UNICEF researcher Tom Slaymaker said climate risks are concentrated in “hot spots” in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, though he added that no country is entirely spared from climate-related threats.

The report noted that in some countries such as Chad, more than 95 percent of children are exposed to at least three climate hazards, driven by compounding risks and weak infrastructure.

It also identified 39 small island states as particularly vulnerable due to limited freshwater resources, import dependence and exposure to extreme weather events, including hurricanes.