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Philippines on alert as Typhoon Koppu nears | Philippines on alert as Typhoon Koppu nears |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Philippines is preparing for a typhoon that is forecast to dump heavy rain and cause severe flooding. | |
On Friday President Benigno Aquino warned people living in the path of Typhoon Koppu to be ready to evacuate. | On Friday President Benigno Aquino warned people living in the path of Typhoon Koppu to be ready to evacuate. |
In a TV address, he said the storm - which is due to hit the northern island of Luzon early on Sunday - could bring up to 12 hours' torrential rain. | |
The Philippines is still reeling from Super Typhoon Haiyan which killed more than 6,300 people in November 2013. | |
Haiyan, the strongest storm ever recorded on land, destroyed entire towns. | |
Typhoon Koppu is packing winds of up to 180km/h (115mph) and is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time. These winds will be strong enough to blow down trees, rip roofs off buildings and threaten power supplies. | |
The first heavy rain was expected in parts of northern and central Luzon on Saturday. | The first heavy rain was expected in parts of northern and central Luzon on Saturday. |
Why is Koppu slow-moving? Chris Fawkes, BBC Weather Centre, explains: | |
There are two typhoons in the west Pacific at the moment - Typhoon Champi sits just to the east of Koppu. | |
The complex interaction between these two typhoons and the warm air within these storms helps to build a ridge of high pressure over Taiwan this weekend. It is this ridge that effectively traps typhoon Koppu over the Philippines for a number of days rather than it being able to turn away from the Philippines and out of harm's way to the South China Sea. | |
Some computer models suggest the storm system will still be affecting the Philippines into the middle of next week allowing colossal amounts of rain to accumulate - 1m (39in) of rain is possible. Such extreme rainfall would bring some severe flooding to Luzon. | |
In his television address, Mr Aquino urged the estimated six million people in the typhoon's direct path to listen to government warnings and be ready to evacuate their homes if necessary. | |
He said aid agencies had already distributed emergency supplies to evacuation centres. | He said aid agencies had already distributed emergency supplies to evacuation centres. |
"Your government is here to help us achieve zero casualties," Mr Aquino said. | "Your government is here to help us achieve zero casualties," Mr Aquino said. |
"But I must emphasise, each local government unit, community and Filipino that will be affected has the duty to co-operate in the collective action we are taking to overcome the challenges ahead." | "But I must emphasise, each local government unit, community and Filipino that will be affected has the duty to co-operate in the collective action we are taking to overcome the challenges ahead." |
Mr Aquino added: "We have assets at the ready... to respond to any eventuality. However, we are dealing with nature so we don't really know what will happen." | Mr Aquino added: "We have assets at the ready... to respond to any eventuality. However, we are dealing with nature so we don't really know what will happen." |
The Philippines weather service warned residents on the east coast of Luzon to be ready for possible storm surges of more than 2m (6ft). | |
Meanwhile, the Philippine military in northern Luzon has been placed on alert for disaster operations. | Meanwhile, the Philippine military in northern Luzon has been placed on alert for disaster operations. |
Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is not due to leave the Philippines until Tuesday, when it will be heading towards Taiwan. | Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is not due to leave the Philippines until Tuesday, when it will be heading towards Taiwan. |
Are you in the Philippines? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments. | Are you in the Philippines? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your comments. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |