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World / Asia

Powerful typhoon slams into the Philippines

Published: 25 Dec 2016 - 02:34 pm | Last Updated: 07 Nov 2021 - 03:25 am
Fishermen secure their boats in the bay of Santo Domingo, Albay province on December 25, 2016, as typhoon Nock-Ten approaches.  AFP / Charism SAYAT

Fishermen secure their boats in the bay of Santo Domingo, Albay province on December 25, 2016, as typhoon Nock-Ten approaches. AFP / Charism SAYAT

AFP

Manila: A powerful typhoon with gusts reaching 235 kilometres (146 miles) an hour made landfall in the eastern Philippines late on Sunday, the state weather service said.

The eye of Typhoon Nock-Ten hit the remote island of Catanduanes just after 6:00 pm (1000 GMT), the weather service announced on its official Twitter site.

There were no immediate official reports of damage or casualties.

The military and local governments have moved more than 100,000 people from the coasts and other hazardous areas of Catanduanes and nearby areas of the Bicol peninsula after experts warned of possible huge waves, floods and landslides.

The typhoon, the strongest to hit the disaster-prone archipelago this year, was forecast to sweep west into the country's most densely populated areas including the capital Manila over the coming hours and on Monday.