Powerful typhoon Koppu ploughed into the northeastern Philippines before dawn on Sunday destroying homes and displacing 10,000 people and whipping up coastal surges four metres high, disaster agency officials said.
There were no reports of casualties after the category four typhoon, with central destructive winds of 175km/h, made landfall around 1am (local time) near the town of Casiguran in Aurora province.
Koppu dumped heavy rain, causing flooding and damaging roads and bridges, and toppled power and communication lines.
“There are still no reports of casualty, thank God,” said Alexander Pama, executive director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“Initially, we are getting many houses were destroyed, power lines toppled and trees blocking major roads,” he said, adding 10,000 people had been displaced in northeastern Luzon, the country’s main island.
The weather bureau said Koppu will remain over Luzon for three days due to a high pressure in the north and another typhoon in the northwest Pacific.
Authorities said 30 flights and ferry services in the north were grounded. Some commuter bus suspended services due threats of landslides in mountain areas.
On Friday, President Benigno Aquino appealed on television to people not to panic and to make preparations. The last time Aquino made a televised appeal was in 2013, the day before super typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines, killing more than 6,300 people and leaving millions homeless.
An average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
