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Typhoon Hagupit sweeps across Philippines Typhoon Hagupit sweeps across Philippines
(about 7 hours later)
Typhoon Hagupit is sweeping across the eastern Philippines, toppling trees and power lines and threatening coastal areas with a powerful sea-surge. Typhoon Hagupit is sweeping across the Philippines, toppling trees and power lines and threatening areas with heavy rain, flooding and mudslides.
More than half a million people have fled coastal villages in the area, which was still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan last year. About a million people have fled their homes for shelter. The storm has killed at least three people, officials say.
In Tacloban, where thousands were killed by Haiyan, roofs have been blown away and streets are flooded. In Tacloban, where thousands were killed by typhoon Haiyan last year, roofs have been blown away and streets are flooded.
But Hagupit does not appear to have been as severe as many had feared.But Hagupit does not appear to have been as severe as many had feared.
So far there have been no reports of casualties. Hagupit, known locally as Ruby, weakened on Sunday as it continued to move slowly across the Philippines.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Legazpi, about 200km (125 miles) north of Tacloban, said Hagiput was clearly a powerful storm but nowhere near as powerful as Haiyan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 140km/h (90mph) and gusts of 170km/h (105 mph) at 17:00 local time (0900 GMT), government forecaster Pagasa said.
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Legazpi, about 200km (125 miles) north of Tacloban, said Hagupit was clearly a powerful storm but nowhere near as powerful as Haiyan.
The authorities believed they were well prepared this time, he adds, but it could be some time before the extent of damage in more remote areas becomes clear.The authorities believed they were well prepared this time, he adds, but it could be some time before the extent of damage in more remote areas becomes clear.
Officials told the BBC that lighter than expected rain meant there was less chance of landslides, but that the strong winds could still bring down trees on homes. Correspondents say the Philippines has undergone its largest peacetime evacuation in history.
Homes destroyed
Officials say at least three people have been killed by Hagupit. One person was killed by a falling tree in the eastern town of Dolores.
Another two people in the central province of Iloilo reportedly died from hypothermia.
"The devastation in homes is huge because of the strong winds," Philippine Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas told local radio DzBB.
"Many people voluntarily returned to evacuate centres tonight... because they do not have homes anymore."
The government has warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to be alert to possible flash floods and landslides, while those on the coast were warned of the risk of big waves associated with storm surges.
Soldiers have been deployed to major roads along the typhoon's path, to clear debris from roads and prevent looting.
Joey Salceda, governor of Albay province where Legazpi is situated, told the BBC that the main lesson from Typhoon Haiyan had been to prepare well and to evacuate people from vulnerable areas.Joey Salceda, governor of Albay province where Legazpi is situated, told the BBC that the main lesson from Typhoon Haiyan had been to prepare well and to evacuate people from vulnerable areas.
"That's what we've been doing, so our principal instrument to achieve zero casualties is essentially evacuation," he said. "It doesn't happen overnight so you need to train people. I feel confident we can achieve our zero casualty goal," he said.
"It doesn't happen overnight so you need to train people. I feel confident we can achieve our zero casualty goal."
At the scene: Saira Asher, BBC News, LegazpiAt the scene: Saira Asher, BBC News, Legazpi
As the worst of the storm is passing over Albay province, the authorities have asked people living on hills prone to mudslides to evacuate to the main cities. The main cities that have so far been in the path of Typhoon Hagupit look to have avoided major damage. But Northern and Eastern Samar are the big worry now, with many small communities that are isolated.
But one family in Cawayan, a tiny village on the outskirts of Legazpi, have decided not to go. They have a sick woman of 98 who can't go with them and they won't leave her. The Philippines Red Cross says their teams are trying to get into some of these areas, but floods or fallen trees blocking roads mean they are unreachable.
Other families have come to ride out the typhoon with them because they have a stronger house. They said they stayed up all night as the storm raged. Until rescue teams can get to the isolated communities, we will not know the extent of the damage or the loss of life.
They are afraid but have no choice. Fallen trees litter the small road leading to their house. Some of the bamboo huts have fallen over. Inside they all huddle together to wait out the storm. Hagupit is a slow-moving typhoon which means a higher risk of prolonged rain that can cause flooding and mudslides. While we may not be seeing the scenes of mass devastation we saw after Typhoon Haiyan, there is still cause for concern.
Hagupit, known locally as Ruby, was packing maximum sustained winds of 175km/h (109mph) and gusts of 210km/h (130 mph) when it made landfall in Dolores in Eastern Samar province on Saturday evening local time. The typhoon first made landfall in the Philippines on Saturday.
Dolores police spokesman Alex Robin told AP news agency late on Saturday that many trees had already come down. It is expected to cross Sibuyan island in the early hours of Monday. According to forecaster Pagasa, it is expected to leave Philippine territory on Thursday morning.
"We are totally in the dark here. The only light comes from flashlights."
Maulid Warfa, the head of Unicef's field office in Tacloban, said their five-storey concrete building was shaking under the force of the storm.Maulid Warfa, the head of Unicef's field office in Tacloban, said their five-storey concrete building was shaking under the force of the storm.
Speaking early on Sunday he said: "We're in this dark building and it's raining heavily and there's no electricity and we are using candles.Speaking early on Sunday he said: "We're in this dark building and it's raining heavily and there's no electricity and we are using candles.
"We have a generator... but because of the rain and the flood and power problems we have switched it off. It's too dangerous.""We have a generator... but because of the rain and the flood and power problems we have switched it off. It's too dangerous."
Mr Warfa added: "Our concern now is not us sitting in this building. Our concern is for the little children who have had to go through this experience for the second time in 13 months."Mr Warfa added: "Our concern now is not us sitting in this building. Our concern is for the little children who have had to go through this experience for the second time in 13 months."
About 19,000 people from coastal villages are in 26 evacuation centres, Tacloban's disaster office spokesman Ilderando Bernadas told Reuters.About 19,000 people from coastal villages are in 26 evacuation centres, Tacloban's disaster office spokesman Ilderando Bernadas told Reuters.
Haiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - was the most powerful typhoon ever recorded over land. It tore through the central Philippines in November 2013 leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing. Haiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - was the most powerful typhoon ever recorded over land. It tore through the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing.
Hagupit's huge diameter of 600km (370 miles) meant that about 50 million people, or half the nation's population, were living in vulnerable areas, officials have said.