Typhoon Xangsane pounds the Eastern Philippines by Steph Ball
Xangsane hit the Eastern Philippines yesterday as a category 2 Typhoon. It caused chaos leaving thousands of air and ferry passengers stranded as it slammed into the Northern Samur Province bringing winds of up to 128mph plus heavy rains.
Coast guards prevented vessels from leaving port and airports were closed as the typhoon struck. In the coastal province of Albay, the provincial Disaster Coordinating Officer ordered residents of towns within Xangsane’s path to leave their homes and move to evacuation centres. It was feared that the area could be hit by possible storm surges, plus landslides and flash floods bought by the heavy rains.
The Philippines is hit by about 20 storms and typhoons a year and Typhoon Xangsane is the 10th typhoon of this season. Typhoons are tropical cyclones which form over the Pacific Ocean to the north of the Equator. Xangsane is expected to affect Manila today and Friday before heading into the South China Sea on path to Vietnam.
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