E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
AFP - Getty Images
Workers clear a road with a fallen tree after Typhoon Bopha hit the city of Tagum, Davao del Norter province, on the southern island of Mindanao on Dec.4.
Super Typhoon Bopha, packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, made landfall in the southern Philippines early Tuesday, The Weather Channel reported.
The storm is equivalent to a category-five hurricane, according to The Weather Channel report.
The storm came ashore in the southern province of Davao at dawn, uprooting trees and blowing off roofs, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.
Residents in flood-prone areas were moving into shelters, ABC reported.
On Monday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino warned the public to take storm warnings seriously. "The potential destruction of this typhoon is no joke," Aquino said in a national television and radio address.
Photoblog: Typhoon Bopha stirs awe from space
Disaster authorities suspended ferries, banned small fishermen from going to sea, closed schools and suspended small-scale mining operations.
Emergency shelters were set up and soldiers, police and emergency workers were evacuating entire coastal areas in some regions.
About 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, often causing death and destruction.
Reuters contributed to this report.
More world stories from NBC News:
- North Korea pays tribute to Kim Jong Il's 'threadbare' parka
- ANALYSIS: Egyptians warn Morsi is no friend of US
- Bread and expired milk: School lunch scandal sparks outrage in China
- PhotoBlog: Building South Sudan from scratch
- ANALYSIS: UN Palestinian vote a personal victory for Abbas
- Fast cars go cheap as bubble bursts in 'China's Dubai'
- Experts: Antarctica, Greenland ice melting into sea
Leave a Comment:
I wish them the best.
Now they'll want us to text #### to donate ten dollars for relief. Where the hell is the US relief from all of the countries we help.
Some of the countries that helped us during Katrina. You will notice the Philippines is listed.
By Friday, offers had been received from Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Britain, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and the United Arab Emirates.
I really hope people were able to evacuate coastal and mountain areas. These areas are so prone to devastation. The Washi typhoon came through over 1,000 people died, a year ago. And this one is twice as powerful. I suspect there will be much help required afterward. We are so lucky to have the advanced technology today to predict such weather. It no doubt has saved countless lives.