Typhoon barrels toward the Philippines
17:17, 6 December 2014
MANILA. KAZINFORM - Rain lashed parts of the Philippines on Saturday as Typhoon Hagupit barreled toward the coast, bringing roaring winds and the threat of massive storm surges.
Satellite images show the eye of the storm, which lost its super typhoon status again Saturday, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) off the eastern coast of the island nation, CNN reports. The storm, the strongest so far this year, is expected to make landfall Saturday evening or Sunday morning, local time, over the Eastern Samar to Northern Samar area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). It's packing sustained winds of 195 kilometers an hour (313 mph) near the storm's center, with gusts of up to 230 kph (370 mph). Millions of people have been scrambling to get out of the typhoon's way, or battening down in hotels on higher ground, away from the coast. Read more