Philippines on alert as 100mph typhoon threatens misery for millions

Flights have been cancelled and thousands of people have been warned to evacuate flood-prone areas as powerful Typhoon Koppu bears down on the Philippines. The typhoon is slowly moving west and due to make landfall on Saturday night local time. It is already packing sustained wind speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h). Disaster agency officials are urging people living in low-lying areas or staying at beach-side resorts to make their way to safer areas because of the risk of flooding and storm surges. The country’s president, Benigno Aquino, has directly appealed for help from Filipinos as authorities try to prevent casualties.

I must emphasise (that) each local government unit, community, and Filipino that will be affected has the duty to cooperate

President Benigno Aquino

Forecasters predict the storm could dump about 50cm of rain, bringing with it the risk of major landslides and flooding. Mr Aquino said government officials were preparing to provide relief assistance to an estimated 7.5 million people. It is the first time he has appeared on TV to issue a storm warning since typhoon Haiyan battered the country in November 2013, leaving thousands of people dead or missing.

Let us not wait to be told to evacuate. Let us evacuate and find the safe places.

Forecaster Adzar Aurelio

World typhoon