Philippines evacuates thousands ahead of deadly Christmas typhoon

December 24, 2016 16:29

Philippine authorities began evacuating thousands of people and shut down dozens of ports today as a strong typhoon threatened to wallop the country's east coast on Christmas Day.

Nock-Ten is expected to be packing winds of between 203-250 kilometres per hour when it crosses over Catanduanes, a remote island of 250,000 people in the Bicol region, late tomorrow, the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center said.

It is then expected to hit the country's main island of Luzon, including the capital Manila, on Monday.

"The preemptive evacuation is ongoing" in Catanduanes and two nearby provinces, Rachel Miranda, spokeswoman for the civil defence office in the Bicol region, told AFP.

The Philippine weather service warned of potentially deadly two-metre waves along the coast, as well as landslides and flash floods from heavy rains.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Rift among INDIA partners triggers 3-way contests across Bengal

As the final five phases of polls draw closer, rift among Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) partners, Congress-Left combine and the Trinamool Congress, which are fighting separately has intensified, triggering a...

Factors that will guide the markets this week

The ongoing fourth quarter earnings season, global factors and macroeconomic data would guide the trends in the equity markets this week, analysts said. Markets would also take cues from trading activity of foreign investors,...

Blow for CSK! Pathirana returns to SL with hamstring injury

Matheesha Pathirana returned to Sri Lanka to recover from a hamstring injury.

WFI furious as Bajrang handed provisional suspension

Bajrang Punia has been handed a provisional suspension for refusing to give his sample for dope test during the recent trials.

Attack on IAF convoy: Several held, hunt on for terrorists

Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Anand Jain and senior officers of the Army and intelligence agencies visited the ambush spot in the Surankote area. The Army also conducted aerial surveillance using a helicopter, they said.