Philippines hit by typhoon, over 41000 residents evacuated

PanARMENIAN.Net - The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year was pounding southern provinces Tuesday, Dec 4, cutting power, suspending travel and flooding areas already vulnerable to landslides, The associated Press reported.

More than 41,000 residents have moved out of their homes in high-risk coastal villages and along rivers, including in southern provinces that were devastated by a deadly storm a year ago.

Civil defense chief Benito Ramos said officials were checking for casualties or damage from a landslide on a mountainside village in Compostela Valley province. They were also working to verify unconfirmed casualty reports from Southern Leyte and Davao Oriental provinces. Power has been cut off in several municipalities in southern Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Davao Oriental provinces while parts of Agusan del Sur province are flooded, he added.

On Monday, President Benigno Aquino III made a national TV appeal for people in Typhoon Bopha's path to move to safety and take storm warnings seriously.

"This typhoon is not a joke," Aquino said after meeting top officials in charge of disaster-response.

"But we can minimize the damage and loss of lives if we help each other," he added.

Government forecaster Jori Loiz said Bopha, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year has weakened since it made landfall in Davao Oriental province early Tuesday. It now packs 160 kilometers (99 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 195 kph (121 mph).

At least 80 domestic flights have been cancelled.

In the mountainous Compostela Valley, authorities halted mining operations and ordered villagers to evacuate to prevent a repeat of deadly losses from landslides and the collapse of mine tunnels seen in recent storms.