Thousands flee homes as Typhoon Koppu hits northern Philippines

[Little Tich]

Source: The Guardian

Winds from the storm, which could last three days, reached 210kmh and brought heavy rain, forcing many people to head for safer ground

Thousands of people fled as Typhoon Koppu hit the northern Philippines early on Sunday, officials said, battering coastal towns with powerful winds that forecasters warned could last up to three days.

No casualties have been reported but about 6,500 people were evacuated from their homes and taken to safer ground, and the number was expected to rise as the storm slowly grinds inland across the main island of Luzon, the civil defence office said.

Koppu pounded the remote coastal town of Casiguran with gusts up to 210kmh (130mph) an hour and heavy rain, remaining nearly stationary hours after making landfall there before dawn, the state weather service said.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/18/thousands-flee-homes-as-typhoon-koppu-hits-northern-philippines

[Warpy]

1. The winds will probably drop quickly enough

but this storm is moving so slowly that predictions are for a meter of rain on much of the island. Most people up in the hills would do well to evacuate to strong buildings. There will likely be a lot of flooding and landslides with this one.

Oh, and there's another one right behind it. Maybe that one will turn north and give them a break.