Seven killed as typhoon hits northern Philippines

MANILA: Powerful typhoon Goni triggered landslides and flooding, torrential rains in northern Philippines brought thousands fleeing to higher ground, while seven people were killed, officials said Saturday.

He was buried in rocks and soils in the northern mountains Six people died in Mountain Province and Benguet. He was hit by a falling tree, a man was killed in the nearby province of Ilocos Norte, the National Disaster Council said in a report.

Five people were injured and two others were reported missing in flooded areas. Nearly 1,700 people were evacuated from Saturday, the report said.

The state weather bureau said the typhoon Goni, 195kph (121mph) with winds of up to 165 kilometers northeast of the northern province of Cagayan on Saturday morning.

In the northern province of Abra, two straight days of heavy rains caused a river to overflow, said Governor Eustaquio Bersamin.

"Abra River has been a sea change," Bersamin DZMM radio reported.

"Rain was stronger than we expected," he said.

Thirteen domestic flights were canceled Saturday, Disaster Council said.

The storm hit the Philippines every year and now that Taiwan has been growing an average of 20 out of the ninth, the weather bureau said.

Taiwan has evacuated people from the outer islands, and heavy rains expected this weekend as it takes precautions against the military are on standby for disaster relief.

Kenting people were still on the beach in the southern region of the giant waves, Saturday morning crashed against the island's east coast.

Tourists evacuated

Goni made landfall in Taiwan, the typhoon is likely to see heavy rains expected in eastern Hualien and Yilan counties with mountain areas, most of the island on Saturday and Sunday will bring heavy rains.

Only two weeks ago in risk areas that were devastated by typhoon Soudelor hot spring town of Wulai included. Popular tourist destination still landslides damaged roads and the city is struggling for regular water and electricity supply was cut off by.

Wulai residents Saturday after residents evacuated from risk areas can expect heavy rains and local authorities to prevent flooding along the river with a pile of sandbags.

At least 1,700 foreign tourists, Taiwan's first Green and Orchid Island have been evacuated. Offices and schools have been closed since Friday. Some ferry services and domestic flights have been canceled, but international flights have yet to be affected.

Typhoon lowest level alert has been issued, although China's National Climate Center, sack landfall in the country would not have predicted.

10,490 boats back to port to avoid the effects of the typhoon arrived in Fujian, which faces Taiwan across the Strait, the eastern coastal areas involved in the fishing industry have evacuated nearly 5,000 people.

Typhoon Soudelor earlier this month after making landfall in Fujian China killed at least 21 people.

In Japan, airlines, sack and a strong typhoon, Atsani closely as possible the flight delays and cancellations.

Atsani Japanese Meteorological Agency, 252kph, with winds of up to some 1,000 km south of Tokyo, on Saturday was expected to approach the Ogasawara island chain.

Guni Sunday Sakishima island chain in the South was forecast to approach, he said.