Powerful Typhoon Hagupit nears Philippines

Typhoon survivors, some of whom are still living in tents, evacuate to safer grounds with their belongings at Tanauan township, Leyte province in central Philippines Thursday, 4 December 2014, in anticipation of the incoming Typhoon Hagupit which is forecast to hit central Philippines this weekend
Tens of thousands of people have sought shelter as powerful Typhoon Hagupit heads towards the Philippines.
Hagupit, or Ruby in the Philippines, has gusts of up to 250km/h (155mph) and is forecast to reach land on Saturday.
It is on course for the Eastern Samar province and the city of Tacloban, where thousands were killed by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago.

Local residents, many of them still living in temporary shelters, are moving away from coastal areas.
Haiyan - known as Yolanda in the Philippines - was the most powerful typhoon ever recorded over land. It tore though the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing. 
Filipino fishermen return from fishing in anticipation of strong winds brought by an upcoming typhoon in Navotas city, north of Manila, Philippines, 4 December 2014. Fishermen are returning to shore and anchoring their boats in anticipation of the typhoon
People take shelter inside a church after evacuating their homes due to super-typhoon Hagupit in Tacloban city, central Philippines 5 December 2014 Tacloban evacuees are taking shelter in the most secure buildings they can, including this church
Meteorologists from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) monitor and plot the direction of super typhoon Hagupit at PAGASA in suburban Manila on 4 December 2014. Government meteorologists in Manila have been closely tracking the typhoon's path
Hagupit, which means "smash" in Filipino, is not expected to be a powerful as Haiyan but could bring storm surges up to one storey high.
Officials have warned the storm will bring heavy rain, storm surges and the risk of landslides.
The US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center had classified Hagupit as a super typhoon but downgraded it on Friday morning. It remains the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Schools and government offices are closed in some areas and there were long queues at shops and petrol stations as people stocked up on supplies.
In Tacloban, many people had chosen to seek shelter in the sports stadium.
"We've learned our lesson from Yolanda," Rita Villadolid, 39, told AFP news agency. "Everyone here is gripped with fear."
The Philippine weather authorities said that as of 04:00 local time (20:00 GMT Thursday) Hagupit was 500km (300 miles) east of Eastern Samar and moving at a speed of 13km/h. It has sustained winds of 215km/h and gusts of up to 250 km/h.
Meteorologists had said there was a chance Hagupit could veer north towards Japan and miss the Philippines altogether, but this scenario is increasingly seen as unlikely.
The Philippines gives its own names to typhoons once they move into Philippine waters, rather than using the international storm-naming system.
Residents with their belongings wait for a government vehicle to bring them to the evacuation center in Tacloban city, central Philippines 4 December 2014 Many people were waiting for government vehicles to take them to evacuation centres
Residents crowd the entrance of a shopping mall to shop for food supplies in Tacloban City, central Philippines on 4 December 2014, ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Hagupit on 6 December Residents have been crowding into shops to buy food supplies ahead of the typhoon's arrival

Newer Post Older Post

Engine: Blogger Design:Ugesi Converted by LiteThemes.com