Thousands flee as typhoon nears Philippines

In the Philippine highland town of Itogon, two construction workers died after a landslide buried their roadside tent in rocks and mud.

Two others were reported missing in flooded areas while four people were injured, according to a disaster council report.

Forecast to move west-northwest, the storm is expected to be in the vicinity of Batanes province’s capital Basco by Saturday morning, before exiting the Philippines’ territory by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, 1,200 people were evacuated by Saturday as Typhoon Goni continues to batter country.

Wu Der-rong (吳德榮), a professor at National Central University’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences, said winds will blow from the north when the typhoon center sweeps north, possibly off Taiwan’s eastern coast.

Typhoon Goni weakened slightly on Saturday, according to the weather bureau.

In the northern province of Abra, two straight days of rainfall have caused a major river to overflow, Governor Eustaquio Bersamin told the local DZMM radio station. “The Abra River has turned into an ocean”, said the official, adding, “The rains were much stronger than we expected”.

At least six families were trapped in riverbank villages and will be rescued, he said.

Goni, the Korean word for Swan, was in waters 360 kilometers southeast of Taitung City, Taiwan, at 5 a.m., traveling at a speed of 45 meters per second at its center.

Several flights and ferry trips have been canceled.

Taiwan has also taken precautions against heavy rains expected this weekend.

In Taiwan, 1,700 tourists were evacuated from the outlying Green and Orchid islands as early as Thursday while offices were shut on Friday.