Tourists warned over Philippines super-typhoon

Travellers have been warned of the dangers of the massive storm.

Travel Insurance News - 18/10/2010

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Despite weakening slightly, Megi has struck the northern Philippines with vicious winds and heavy rain. Described as a ‘super typhoon’, the storm packs winds as high as 225kph. Reports indicate at least one person has died and thousands of people have evacuated. This is the strongest storm to hit the country in four years.

All sea travel has been suspended in the Philippines. Officials warn that buildings and power supplies could be damaged by the strong winds and heavy rain. The areas of the Philippines at greatest risk at the moment are the provinces of Isabela and Cagayan in the country’s north.

The government declared a ‘state of calamity’ across the north as the storm approached. As the storm made landfall Monday morning, thousands of locals from Isabela had moved inland to take shelter in communal buildings. Just before Megi hit the eastern seaboard, it was reclassified a regular typhoon.

The storm weakened further as it crossed mountainous inland areas but is expected to regain strength as it heads towards China. In China, the government has reportedly had more than 100,000 people leave areas in the path the storm is expected to take.

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