Massive typhoon hits the Philippines

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Aftermath of previous typhoon in Manilla

ALTHOUGH it is too early to list the number of people killed by Hurricane Koppu, there is no doubt that when the final figures are available that the typhoon which is measured as being over 400 miles across will have devastated wide areas of the Philippines.

Koppu made landfall at the town of Casiguran in the north of the country on the morning of October 18 with winds in the region of 200 kilometres (124 miles) per hour and although there has been a negligible death toll reported so far, literally thousands of people have had to flee their homes.

As it is a slow moving hurricane, there are fears that it will bring flooding and further disruption over the next few days, including loss of power and landslides.

Even the capital in Manila has not escaped and there are reports of at least one death and a number of injuries when a tree was blown onto a house.

Speaking in Manila, Lotta Sylwander of UNICEF told the BBC that people in the worst hit areas needed to be able to sustain themselves for up to 72 hours.

“That’s how long the typhoon is going to take to pass and during that time it’s going to be extremely difficult to come in with any kind of transport,” she said.

Written by

John Smith

Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica. Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene. Currently he is acting as Editorial Consultant for the paper helping to shape its future development. Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

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