Typhoon lashes northern Philippines as thousands evacuated

A strong typhoon is battering the northern Philippines, where thousands of people were evacuated to avoid a repeat of the death and destruction wrought by a powerful storm last month.

Officials say Typhoon Yutu slammed into Dinapigue town in northeastern Isabela province before dawn Tuesday with sustained winds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 210 kph (130mph). It knocked down trees and power posts and ripped roofs off small houses, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Government forecasters say Yutu slightly weakened after landfall and is expected to blow out of the northern Philippines later Tuesday after barging westward across provinces that were damaged by Typhoon Mangkhut in mid-September.

More than 10,000 villagers moved to safety in northern provinces before Yutu hit.

Source: AP