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| Philippines braced as Typhoon Koppu makes landfall | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Authorities in the Philippines have cancelled flights and ordered thousands of people in coastal areas to evacuate as Typhoon Koppu hits the country. | Authorities in the Philippines have cancelled flights and ordered thousands of people in coastal areas to evacuate as Typhoon Koppu hits the country. |
| The slow-moving storm made landfall near the town of Casiguran on the main island of Luzon on Sunday morning. | |
| Koppu is predicted to bring three days of torrential rain, triggering floods, storm surges and possibly landslides. | |
| Disaster officials said a few thousand people living in vulnerable coastal areas had already sought shelter. | Disaster officials said a few thousand people living in vulnerable coastal areas had already sought shelter. |
| Earlier, President Benigno Aquino made a televised warning, the first time he had done so since Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,300 people. | |
| Typhoon Koppu, also known as Lando, is producing winds of up to 250km/h (155mph) and is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time. The wind could be strong enough to blow down trees, rip roofs off buildings and threaten power supplies. | |
| "We are now forcing the people to evacuate in coastal areas and river banks to minimise loss of life," said Alexander Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. | "We are now forcing the people to evacuate in coastal areas and river banks to minimise loss of life," said Alexander Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. |
| "The situation is critical because the winds are getting stronger and it will get stronger as [Koppu] moves closer," he added. | "The situation is critical because the winds are getting stronger and it will get stronger as [Koppu] moves closer," he added. |
| Airport authorities have grounded 14 domestic flights, while the Coast Guard has imposed a "no sail" policy and suspended a search for a missing yacht with four on board in the South China Sea. | Airport authorities have grounded 14 domestic flights, while the Coast Guard has imposed a "no sail" policy and suspended a search for a missing yacht with four on board in the South China Sea. |
| Why is Koppu slow-moving? Chris Fawkes, BBC Weather Centre, explains: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| "Soldiers with bull horns were going around coastal villages forcing people to flee," Vir Malabanan, a resident told Reuters by phone from Santiago, in Isabela province. | "Soldiers with bull horns were going around coastal villages forcing people to flee," Vir Malabanan, a resident told Reuters by phone from Santiago, in Isabela province. |
| "We've been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds for hours. We no longer have power in the province, so we rely on radio sets for news." | "We've been experiencing heavy rain and strong winds for hours. We no longer have power in the province, so we rely on radio sets for news." |
| Rain has already reached Manila, though winds are not expected to be strong enough in the capital to cause damage. | Rain has already reached Manila, though winds are not expected to be strong enough in the capital to cause damage. |
| In his televised appeal on Friday, President 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. |
| The Philippines weather service warned residents on the east coast of Luzon to be ready for possible storm surges of more than 2m (6ft). | 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 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 |