Typhoon gaining strength

2007-11-23 07:30

Manila - Philippines authorities raced to evacuate up to one million people on Friday as Typhoon Mitag bore down on eastern areas devastated by storms last year.

Flatbed lorries, police-chartered vans and even rubbish trucks were pressed in to service as thousands of men, women and children were moved from vulnerable areas.

Mitag gathered strength overnight and was due to hit the Bicol peninsula, known as 'typhoon alley,' on Saturday, the local weather bureau said.

The peninsula bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Durian last year which killed 1 200 people and left 200 000 homeless.

Entire villages were obliterated and hundreds were swept to their deaths in mudslides triggered by Durian, which blew away houses and uprooted trees as it slammed into Albay and Bicol provinces.

President Gloria Arroyo, who cut short an official visit to deal with the typhoon, has told officials she did not want a repeat of last year's disaster and ordered pre-emptive evacuations.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper said up to one million people were being evacuated from the Bicol region, including more than 600 000 people from Albay.

But the paper said evacuations were progressing slowly with less than 10 000 families evacuated. Albay governor Joey Salceda said the army and police were prepared to move forcibly those who did not want to go.

Officials are on alert for mud and ash flows that may come cascading down the slopes of Mayon Volcano, as well as storm surges that could hit coastal areas, Salceda said.

At Daraga town, near the port of Legaspi, a motley assortment of vehicles trundled out of the area loaded with residents clutching their belongings.

Families sat on the back of the trucks clutching bags of clothes, mats and blankets as they headed for schools being used as evacuation centres.

"It is the people themselves who are asking to be taken out," said local police chief Superintendent Tony Freyra.

The weather bureau said Mitag had winds up to 160km/h and gusts of 195km/h. It was 300km southwest of Manila and due to be off Bicol's Catanduanes Island by Saturday.

Chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz told local radio Mitag, on its present course, is expected to cut across Catanduanes on Saturday, then Southern Luzon provinces on Sunday.

He also said there was a possibility the typhoon may change course and move west-northwest towards Central and Northern Luzon, making landfall on Sunday morning.

The Philippines is frequently hit by extreme weather with a tropical storm Hagibis killing 10 only last week.

- AFP