3 killed as Megi blasts Philippines
Source: Agencies |
October 19, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE strongest cyclone in years to crash into the Philippines killed at least three people yesterday, leaving a wasteland of fallen trees and power poles and sending thousands scampering to safety in near-zero visibility.
A retired general said bracing for the onslaught was like preparing for war.
Super Typhoon Megi, blowing across the northern Philippines, is forecast to be heading toward China and Vietnam next.
Megi packed sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour and gusts of 260 kph as it made landfall midday yesterday at Palanan Bay in Isabela province, felling trees and utility poles and cutting off power, phone and Internet services.
Its ferocious winds slightly weakened while crossing the mountains of the Philippines' main northern island of Luzon.
With more than 4,150 Filipinos riding out the typhoon in school buildings, town halls, churches and relatives' homes, roads in and out of the coastal Isabela province were deserted and blocked by collapsed trees, power lines and debris.
One man who had just rescued his water buffalo slipped and fell into a river and drowned in Cagayan province, near Isabela. A woman was pinned to death when a tamarind tree crushed her house and injured her child in Kalinga province, and a security guard died after being struck by a pine tree in nearby Baguio city.
At least six people were injured in the region by falling trees, collapsed roof and shattered glass.
As it crashed ashore, the typhoon whipped up huge waves. There was near-zero visibility and radio reports said the wind was so powerful that people could take no more than a step at a time.
Ships and fishing vessels were told to stay in ports, and several domestic and international flights were canceled, officials said.
The entire Isabela province lost power along with 16 of Cagayan's 28 towns as the typhoon blew by. Cagayan Governor Alvaro Antonio said the wind was fierce but blew high above the ground, sparing many rice fields ready for harvesting.
Although initial casualties were low compared to past storm disasters, retired army Major General Benito Ramos, who heads the country's disaster-preparedness agency, expressed sadness over the deaths. Bracing for the typhoon, he said, was like "preparing for war." He added: "This was tougher because in war, I could take a nap."
Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on standby, along with helicopters, including six Chinooks committed by United States troops holding war exercises with Filipino soldiers near Manila, Ramos said.
Megi was the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines in four years, forecasters said.
A retired general said bracing for the onslaught was like preparing for war.
Super Typhoon Megi, blowing across the northern Philippines, is forecast to be heading toward China and Vietnam next.
Megi packed sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour and gusts of 260 kph as it made landfall midday yesterday at Palanan Bay in Isabela province, felling trees and utility poles and cutting off power, phone and Internet services.
Its ferocious winds slightly weakened while crossing the mountains of the Philippines' main northern island of Luzon.
With more than 4,150 Filipinos riding out the typhoon in school buildings, town halls, churches and relatives' homes, roads in and out of the coastal Isabela province were deserted and blocked by collapsed trees, power lines and debris.
One man who had just rescued his water buffalo slipped and fell into a river and drowned in Cagayan province, near Isabela. A woman was pinned to death when a tamarind tree crushed her house and injured her child in Kalinga province, and a security guard died after being struck by a pine tree in nearby Baguio city.
At least six people were injured in the region by falling trees, collapsed roof and shattered glass.
As it crashed ashore, the typhoon whipped up huge waves. There was near-zero visibility and radio reports said the wind was so powerful that people could take no more than a step at a time.
Ships and fishing vessels were told to stay in ports, and several domestic and international flights were canceled, officials said.
The entire Isabela province lost power along with 16 of Cagayan's 28 towns as the typhoon blew by. Cagayan Governor Alvaro Antonio said the wind was fierce but blew high above the ground, sparing many rice fields ready for harvesting.
Although initial casualties were low compared to past storm disasters, retired army Major General Benito Ramos, who heads the country's disaster-preparedness agency, expressed sadness over the deaths. Bracing for the typhoon, he said, was like "preparing for war." He added: "This was tougher because in war, I could take a nap."
Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on standby, along with helicopters, including six Chinooks committed by United States troops holding war exercises with Filipino soldiers near Manila, Ramos said.
Megi was the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines in four years, forecasters said.
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