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Fierce storm lashes Philippines Fierce storm lashes Philippines
(about 12 hours later)
One of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines for several years is battering northern areas. One of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines for several years is battering northern Luzon island.
Torrential rain and fierce winds of nearly 200km (120 miles) per hour were bearing down on coastal areas in the north-east, weather officials said. Typhoon Cimaron's torrential rain and winds of 175km/h (110mph) shut schools and offices and disrupted transport.
Residents were warned of possible landslides, flash floods and rough seas as Typhoon Cimaron approached. A 28-year-old woman and her child were reported killed in Aurora province, where flimsy houses were blown away.
In a radio message to the nation, President Gloria Arroyo urged people not to venture outdoors unnecessarily. Last month dozens were killed by Typhoon Xangsane. Cimaron is expected to blow over the South China Sea later on Monday, heading towards Vietnam.
Those living in low-lying areas have been told to move to higher ground, and teams of disaster officials are on stand-by to rescue people or move them to shelters, says the BBC's Helen Toms in Manila. Forecasters predict it will reach the Vietnamese coast late on Wednesday.
Trees are swaying and I can hear tin roof sheets banging about. Large areas are without light. We're expecting the worst Armand Araneta Civil defence official 'Expecting the worst'
Cimaron - the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines since 1998 - made land at 2100 local (1300GMT), lashing mountainous and agricultural regions of the northern island of Luzon. Cimaron - the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines since 1998 - made landfall on Sunday evening, lashing mountainous and agricultural regions of Luzon.
Four provinces - Aurora, Cagayan, Isabela and Qurino - are under the highest level of typhoon warning.
"The wind is really blowing strong. Trees are swaying and I can hear tin roof sheets banging about. Large areas are without light. We're expecting the worst," Armand Araneta, an Isabela province civil defence official told the Associated Press news agency."The wind is really blowing strong. Trees are swaying and I can hear tin roof sheets banging about. Large areas are without light. We're expecting the worst," Armand Araneta, an Isabela province civil defence official told the Associated Press news agency.
Fifteen provinces are likely to be affected by the typhoon.
Three domestic flights from the capital, Manila, to northern destinations were cancelled on Monday. Bus services were also halted.
Schools remained closed on Monday, and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said it was unclear whether they would open again on Tuesday.
Luzon is a key rice-growing area, and crops have been already been affected by Typhoon Xangsane.
The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons every year.The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons every year.
Last month Typhoon Xangsane left about 200 dead in the Philippines and Vietnam.