This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37707593

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Super Typhoon Haima: Philippines evacuates thousands in storm's path Super Typhoon Haima batters Philippines
(about 9 hours later)
Tens of thousands have been evacuated in the Philippines amid one of the country's worst-ever storms. The Philippines has been hit by Super Typhoon Haima, bringing sustained winds of up to 225km/h (140mph).
Super Typhoon Haima is battering the northern island of Luzon, where over 10 million people are within its reach. The storm made landfall over Cagayan in the north on Wednesday, but there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
President Rodrigo Duterte is visiting China, but said emergency services had been deployed. Tens of thousands of people had been evacuated from threatened areas as the storm approached.
"We only pray we be spared the destruction such as the previous times, which brought agony and suffering," he said. There was widespread damage overnight, with homes destroyed and power lines brought down.
Experts had feared Haima could prove as destructive as the catastrophic super typhoon Haiyan, which claimed more than 7,350 lives in 2013.
The Philippines endures around 20 major storms every year, many of them deadly.
The storm was upgraded to a super typhoon just before it hit, making landfall in Penablanca, a town in Cagayan province, around 23:00 local time (1500 GMT) on Wednesday.The storm was upgraded to a super typhoon just before it hit, making landfall in Penablanca, a town in Cagayan province, around 23:00 local time (1500 GMT) on Wednesday.
"We can't go out because the wind is so intense, trees are being forced down," local councillor Elisa Arugay told DZMM radio from Camasi village in Penablanca."We can't go out because the wind is so intense, trees are being forced down," local councillor Elisa Arugay told DZMM radio from Camasi village in Penablanca.
Experts fear Haima could prove as destructive as the catastrophic super typhoon Haiyan, which claimed more than 7,350 lives in 2013. On Thursday morning, there were reports of damage across a wide area.
Haima, known as Lawin locally, has a weather band 800km (500 miles) wide, and authorities have warned the public to expect fierce winds and storm surges up to five metres (16 feet) or higher. "Rice and corn plants as far as the eye can see are flattened," Villamor Visaya, a teacher in the northern city of Ilagan told the AFP.
Waves of this size could easily engulf homes in fragile coastal areas. "Many houses were destroyed. I saw one school building crushed under a large tree... it was as if our house was being pulled from its foundations."
State weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said the super typhoon had struck the country with sustained winds of 140mph (225km/h) and gusts of 195mph (315km/h). Haima, known as Lawin locally, had a weather band 800km (500 miles) wide, and authorities had warned the public to expect fierce winds and storm surges up to five metres (16 feet) or higher.
The typhoon is expected to move westward through Luzon, leaving the island on Thursday on course for southern China.
Civil defence chief Ricardo Jalad said all areas in the storm's path had been evacuated in advance. He said there would probably be "damage to light structures" and a risk of floods and landslides.
In towns that could be cut off by toppled trees and mudslides, police and soldiers helped thousands of villagers onto trucks with their children. Laden with bags of clothes, sleeping mats, and cooking pots, they made their way to emergency shelters.
The Philippines endures around 20 major storms every year, many of them deadly.
Haima is the second typhoon to hit the Philippines in a week, after Sarika struck on Sunday. At least one person was killed in that storm, and three people are still missing.Haima is the second typhoon to hit the Philippines in a week, after Sarika struck on Sunday. At least one person was killed in that storm, and three people are still missing.
Haima is now moving out across the South China Sea towards Hong Kong and southern China.