Philippines: Thousands evacuated ahead of huge typhoon

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - Thousands were evacuated in northeastern regions in the Philippines on Monday as a massive typhoon approaches, according to local media.

Around 10,000 families were evacuated in the Bicol region ahead of the storm -- which was named as Kammuri also locally known as Tisoy, The Manila Times reported.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall near the southeastern tip of the northern Luzon island -- in the Catanduanes, Albay or Sorsogon regions -- between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, according to the latest report by the country's meteorological authority.

Kammuri was last spotted 195 kilometers (121 miles) east of Juban, Sorsogon, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 185 kph (115 mph). It is heading west at 20 kph (12 mph).

The state weather bureau expanded its tropical cyclone wind alert as Kammuri moves closer to land, the Manila-based daily Philstar reported.

After landing in the Bicol area, the typhoon is forecast to cross southern Luzon on Tuesday.

Workplaces and schools in various affected regions have been closed, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.