Philippines: Thousands of people evacuated as super typhoon approaches on Christmas Day

Nina, or Nock-Ten, is expected to pack winds between 200 and 250 kmph and will cross over the Bicoi region.

Dec 25, 2016 · 07:54 am Updated Dec 25, 2016 · 03:01 pm

Philippines: Thousands of people evacuated as super typhoon approaches on Christmas Day — Stranded passengers from Tabaco port are evacuated by the local government in Tabaco City, Albay province on December 24, 2016 after their seafaring vessels were prohibited from sailing ahead of typhoon Nock-Ten's expected arrival. Philippine authorities began evacuating thousands of people and shut down dozens of ports on December 24 as a strong typhoon threatened to wallop the country's east coast on Christmas Day. Nock-Ten is expected to be packing winds of between 203-250 kilometres per hour (126-155 miles per hour) when it crosses over Catanduanes, a remote island of 250,000 people in the Bicol region, late Sunday, the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center said. | AFP/Charism Sayat

At least 5,000 people were evacuated from the Philippines’ Bicoi region ahead of super typhoon Nina, or Nock-Ten, which is expected to pass over the country on Sunday afternoon. The storm will pack winds between 200 and 250 kmph.

Warnings for giant waves have been issued. Landslides and flash floods caused by rainfall are also expected. Forecasters said the typhoon will move across the region slowly, at around 15 kmph, and weaken as it reaches Manila on Monday.

Cedric Daep, civil defence chief for the province of Albay, told AFP that at least 400,000 people in that area alone needed to be evacuated. According to local reports, hundreds are stuck in ports in Catanduanes Island and are awaiting evacuation.

The region is currently under cyclone warning number 3. The super typhoon gained intensity very rapidly on Friday and poses a danger to hundreds of thousands of residents in the region.

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