Massive typhoon hits Philippines, no casualties reported

LEGAZPI, Philippines – Typhoon Hagupit knocked out power in entire coastal provinces, mowed down trees and sent more than 650,000 people into shelters, but no major damage or casualties have been reported as the storm weakened today.

Hagupit slammed into Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines late Saturday and lost strength as it barreled westward across a string of island provinces. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 87 miles per hour and gusts of 106 mph, considerably weaker from its peak power but still a potentially deadly storm, according to forecasters.

Traumatized by Typhoon Haiyan’s massive death and destruction last year in the central region that’s being partly whipped by Hagupit, more than 650,000 people readily fled to about 1,000 emergency shelters and safer ground. The government, backed by the 120,000-strong military, launched massive preparations to attain a zero-casualty target.

Nearly a dozen countries led by the United States and the European Union have pledged to help in case of a major disaster, disaster-response agency chief Alexander Pama said.

Authorities were verifying reports of some deaths but none has been confirmed so far, Pama told a news conference.

While authorities have expressed relief so far, they were quick to warn that Hagupit – Filipino for “smash” or “lash” – was still on course to barrel across three major central islands before starting to blow away Tuesday into the South China Sea.

Several typhoon-lashed eastern villages isolated by downed telephone and power lines were out of contact, Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said.