Super typhoon slams into the eastern Philippines
Officials say a super typhoon slammed into the eastern Philippines with “catastrophic violent winds” early Sunday and about a million people have been evacuated in its projected path, including in the capital where the main international airport has been ordered closed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A super typhoon slammed into the eastern Philippines with “catastrophic violent winds” early Sunday and about a million people have been evacuated in its projected path, including in the capital where the main international airport has been ordered closed, officials said.
Typhoon Goni hit the coast of the eastern island province of Catanduanes at dawn with sustained winds of 225 kph (140 mph) and gusts of 280 kph (174 miles). It was blowing westward toward densely populated regions, including Manila and rain-soaked provinces still recovering from a typhoon that hit a week ago and left at least 22 dead, the Philippine weather agency said.
“Within the next 12 hours, catastrophic violent winds and intense to torrential rainfall associated with the region of the eyewall and inner rain bands of the typhoon will be experienced,” the weather agency said in an urgent advisory.
It named Catanduanes and four other provinces to be initially hit, including Albay, where tens of thousands of villagers have been moved to safety, specially near the active Mayon Volcano, where volcanic mudflows have caused deaths during storms in the past.
One of the most powerful typhoons to hit any country in the world this year, Goni has evoked memories of Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead and missing, flattened entire villages, swept ships inland and displaced more than 5 million in November 2013 in the central Philippines.