A powerful typhoon was headed to the northern Philippines yesterday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people living on the slopes of a volcano that erupted earlier in the week, the Philippine weather bureau said.
Typhoon Noul, packing sustained winds of 160kph and gusts of up to 195 kph, was blowing toward Isabela Province on the main island of Luzon and wasexpected to make landfall early today, Philippine government forecaster Fernando Cada said.
After hitting land, the typhoon is expected to head north toward southern Japan by Monday, he said.
Photo: EPA
Cada said heavy rains are expected within a 100km radius of the eye of the typhoon.
About 300 people, more than half of them children, evacuated from a village near Mount Bulusan, because authorities said the rains could dislodge debris that was emitted in two volcanic explosions in Sorsogon Province’s Irosin Township, about 500km south of Isabela.
Forecasters also warned of storm surges 2.5m-high, which could swamp coastal communities.
The Philippinne Coast Guard suspended ferry services from Matnog Port south of Irosin, stranding more than 4,100 people and at least 300 vehicles.
About 20 storms and typhoons enter the Philippines yearly. The strongest on record to make landfall, Typhoon Haiyan, devastated the central Philippines, killing more than 7,300 people.
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