Powerful Typhoon Nock-Ten hits eastern Philippines

A powerful typhoon with gusts reaching 235km/h has made landfall in the eastern Philippines, the state weather service said.


The eye of Typhoon Nock-Ten hit the remote island of Catanduanes just after 6pm (10am Irish time), the weather service announced on its official Twitter site.

There were no immediate official reports of damage or casualties.

The typhoon will affect an area populated by nearly 42 million people, including the capital Manila, which was forecast to be hit tomorrow.

The military and local authorities have moved more than 100,000 people from the coasts and other hazardous areas of Catanduanes and nearby areas of the Bicol peninsula after experts warned of possible huge waves, floods and landslides.

Civil defence officials in Bicol said earlier nearly half a million people in the region were in harm's way and needed to be evacuated.

The government called for preemptive evacuations in the region on Friday, with nearly 4,000 residents moving into emergency centres and more than 8,000 others seeking shelter elsewhere, according to an official tally.

Evacuations were continuing early on Christmas Day with trucks provided by the military as well as local governments sent to coastal communities and other areas that have been hit by landslides or flash floods in previous storms.

Nock-Ten, which will arrive outside the normal typhoon season, disrupted Christmas celebrations, with all ferry services and some commercial flights suspended.
 rte.ie
25/12/16