MANILA: Authorities evacuated northern coastal villages, suspended ferry services and called in fishing boats yesterday as an approaching category-five storm (strongest), labelled a super typhoon, gained strength on a path set for southern China.
With centre winds of 205kmph and gusts of up to 240kmph, Typhoon Usagi, the strongest storm to hit the Western Pacific this year, was moving northwest at 19kmph between the Philippines and Taiwan and headed for Hong Kong and south China.
Storm alerts have been raised on the rice and coconut-growing island of Batanes and 15 provinces on the main island of Luzon.
“Our people there know the drill, but we have also issued warnings to take safety precautions,” Philippine Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. “We’re praying it doesn’t create death and destruction.”
A typhoon hit Batanes in 1987, destroying all roads as the water level surged 25 feet.
Power and communications in the area were cut off for safety reasons and hospitals put on alert as disaster agencies stocked up on food and water. Troops were on standby.
Usagi is expected to batter the northernmost islands overnight and likely to weaken before it hits southern China tomorrow night. Agencies
