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Deadly Typhoon Hits Northern Philippines

   Winds gust up to 260 kph

   VOA News 18 October 2010

Photo: AP

   Philippine weather forecaster monitors the path of typhoon Megi (local
   name  "Juan")  during  a  regular  update  Sunday Oct. 17, 2010 at the
   PAGASA  weather  forecasting  center  at  Manila's  Quezon city in the
   Philippines.  "Megi"  is  the  10th  weather  distrubance to enter the
   country this year.

   At  least  one  person  is dead in the far northern Philippines, where
   so-called  "Super  Typhoon"  Megi crashed ashore with fierce winds and
   torrential rain around midday Monday.
   Reports  say  roofs  were  torn  off houses and electricity poles were
   toppled  by  the  winds,  which  howled  at  sustained  speeds  of 225
   kilometers  per  hour and gusted up to 260. One man was killed when he
   fell in a river.
   Megi is described as the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines in
   four years.
   Philippine  authorities  ordered  thousands  of  people in Cagayan and
   Isabella  provinces on Luzon island to move to safer areas.  They say
   the  heavy  rain and high winds could damage buildings, power supplies
   and agriculture in the corn- and rice-producing region.
   The  government  said  it  had  prepared for the storm by sending food
   packs,  rescue  boats  and  other  equipment to the north to help with
   eventual relief efforts.

   Residents  were  also  urged  to  stock  up  on  food  in  Manila, 320
   kilometers to the south.
   Weather officials say Megi is this year's strongest typhoon.   It is
   expected to weaken slightly as it crosses Luzon before re-intensifying
   as it moves west over the South China Sea.
   China  has  issued  its  second-highest alert for the typhoon, warning
   that it could be the strongest to affect the country this year.

   Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
   

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