The typhoon has struck Koppu Sunday the northern Philippines with winds up to 185 kilometers per hour and heavy rains have left at least four dead and over 25,000 evacuees, as well as floods and landslides.
The typhoon forced the evacuation of 5,852 families-more than 25,000 people-and caused a generalized cut in electricity supply in the regions of Ilocos, Central Luzon and CALABARZON. The figure is expected to rise affected, since some of the affected areas are very remote and difficult to reach, many of which still has not received information.
After the typhoon, a man died today in Quezon City in Metro Manila, when he fell on a tree, said at a televised news conference executive director of the National Council of Management and Risk Reduction Disaster Alexander Pama. Two other people died drowned in the town of Palayan, told the media the governor of the province of Nueva Ecija, one of the hardest hit by the storm.
One more person died Saturday after the boat he was traveling in capsized by waves caused by the typhoon as it approached the archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, local media noted.
Koppu, which moves as five kilometers per hour through the northern Philippines, is leaving heavy rainfall in the area, which have so far caused 21 floods and landslides in 13 regions of Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol , according to the National Disaster Council.
Moreover, some 5,500 people are in various ports in the region waiting to continue their journey as they navigate banned all boats, while 15 roads and 10 bridges in the affected area have become impassable.
The Meteorological Agency Philippines (PAGASA) named Lando Koppu estimated by local authorities will not leave the country until Wednesday morning, although I expected to go fading typhoon into a tropical storm on Monday or Tuesday.
"The danger has not yet passed, so we call on the residents of affected areas to remain vigilant to within about 24 or 48 hours," Pama said during his appearance before the press.
The authorities are also concerned about the level they are achieving four major dams in the region (Ipo, Ambuklao, Magat and Binga), who have had to open its gates, which could cause major flooding in nearby towns. Specifically, Magat Dam is releasing 1,992 cubic meters of water per second, according to the latest figures from PAGASA.
