Saturday, November 11, 2006
Typhoon slams into northeastern RP
MANILA (Updated 9:30 a.m.) -- Typhoon Queenie (international codename: Chebi) intensified Saturday as it slammed the northeastern Philippines with powerful winds, ripping off roofs and cutting power lines.
Authorities urged residents to brace for possible floods and landslides as the second super typhoon in as many weeks roared through rice-growing provinces of northern Luzon island with maximum winds of 195 kilometers (121 miles) and gusts of up to 230 kph (143 mph).
It quickly picked up wind speed overnight from 120 kph (75 mph), the Philippine weather bureau reported.
Queenie made landfall in northeastern Aurora province early Saturday morning and began moving across the provinces of Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Pangasinan. It was forecast to move out into the South China Sea later Saturday.
Nearly 30 northeastern provinces were placed under a storm alert because of rains, winds and rough seawaters.
"The winds are powerful and the flood waters are high. People have been awake since 3 a.m.," Department of Environment officer James Martinez said in an interview on Radio DZRH from Dilasag town in Aurora province.
Martinez said local authorities were advising residents in low-lying areas to evacuate to higher ground.
Radio reports said cell phone signals and power lines were knocked down in the province and there was damage to houses, but there were no casualties.
Many of the areas had suffered damage last week when Typhoon Paeng (international codename: Cimaron) slammed the same region, leaving 15 people dead in flashflood and landslides. It came on the heels of Typhoon Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane), which left 230 people dead and missing in and around Manila in late September.
About 20 typhoons and tropical storms lash the country each year. Chebi, which means swallow in Korean, is the 17th this season. (AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (November 11, 2006 issue)
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