Philippines Mindanao island hit by Typhoon Bopha

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

More than 40,000 people have been moved into shelter as a powerful typhoon hits the southern Philippines.

Typhoon Bopha made landfall on Mindanao early on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts of 210 km/h (130mph).

At least two people died in the storm, which caused power cuts, travel disruption and flooding in areas at risk of landslides.

Bopha comes a year after Typhoon Washi killed more than 1,500 people in the southern Philippines.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20590437

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This is an ongoing story; AP says the death toll is now 5, but I fear it will go higher.

Note: the typhoon is known as 'Pablo' in the Philippines: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/318167/6-dead-as-pablo-hits-southern-philippines

[dipsydoodle]

1. Now updated - Philippines typhoon 'kills dozens'

More than 40 people have been killed after a powerful typhoon swept across the southern Philippines, according to local media reports.

Typhoon Bopha made landfall on Mindanao, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts of 210 km/h (130mph) and forcing 40,000 people to be evacuated.

The storm has also caused power cuts, travel disruption and flooding in areas at risk of landslides.

The mining province of Compostela Valley was among the worst affected.

smae link : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20590437

[dipsydoodle]

3. posted in wrong place

[DCBob]

2. I have relatives in Mindanao and it was not as bad a first feared in their area.

They were in the path but far inland so they didnt get the full brunt. It was fast moving so not much flooding fortunately.

It was bad but could have been much worse.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Philippines' biggest typhoon kills at least 230, hundreds missing

(Reuters) - The death toll from the Philippines' strongest typhoon this year rose on Wednesday to around 230, with hundreds missing in landslides and floodwaters, as the storm continued its destructive path across the island nation.

Typhoon Bopha, with central winds of 120 kph (75 mph) and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph), battered beach resorts and dive spots in northern Palawan on Wednesday, but there was little damage as the storm began to weakened.

Hardest hit were the coastal, farming and mining towns in the southern Mindanao region, where Bopha made landfall on Tuesday, destroying homes, causing landslides and flash flooding and killing at least 230 people.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/uk-philippines-typhoon-idUKBRE8B405K20121205

[Archae]

5. Our "news" media is ignoring this.

ABC news had features on a fashoin director who might get an ambassador's job, and of course Princess Kate being pregnant.

You know what they said about this disaster? Nothing. Nothing at all.

[Diyames]

6. It gets even worse

The death toll is rising. Now over 500. Massive destruction to banana plantations and farmers. People buried in knee-deep mud. Thousands of houses destroyed. I read this morning that a rare leatherback turtle and at least 11 giant clams have been found dead - battered by rough seas in a marine sanctuary near Danao city, Cebu. That's quite a distance from the hardest hit areas. The damage is wide spread. I've spent a lot of time in the Philippines and am trying to develop some kind of charitable fund or organization to help alleviate some of the dire poverty that is so common in the provinces. Wish I could be there now.