- Title: PHILIPPINES: Coastal communites prepare for Typhoon Lupit
- Date: 23rd October 2009
- Summary: NET HANGING FROM WOODEN POST, CHILDREN PLAYING NEARBY CHILDREN RUNNING FROM BIG WAVES
- Embargoed: 7th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA6S33G0C32MOGJMAVM7TJK32PN
- Story Text: Seaside villages in the northern Philippines are preparing for Typhoon Lupit, which is set to make landfall by Sunday (October 25) morning.
Coastal communities are all too familiar with the devastation typhoons can bring, and hope Lupit will not wreak as much havoc as the previous ones, Ketsana and Parma.
Fisherman moved their boats away from shore and residents living in landslide-prone areas were advised to evacuate.
"We're scared. Our roof has not even been repaired yet, and another typhoon is coming. So we'll just have to prepare for it. We must raise our boats, as they might get destroyed," fisherman Rodrigo Tapia said.
Typhoon Lupit has slowed down and weakened, the weather bureau said.
As of Thursday (October 22) morning, it was seen 300 kilometres (186 miles) east of Cagayan province, and was packing winds of 160 kilometres per hour (99 miles per hour), and gustiness of up to 195 kph (121 mph), the weather bureau said.
Rains brought by Typhoon Ketsana washed away the hut of fisherman Ronnie Capulong. He has temporarily housed his wife and two sons in a makeshift shelter.
"I hope we will not get devastated for a second time. We still have no home," Capulong said.
Businesses are also suffering in the popular resort town of Pagudpod, renowned for its white sandy beaches.
Paul Ramos, retired from the U.S. airforce, opened a resort in the village four years ago. He said tourism had plummeted since the typhoon.
"It really affected the business very much. This is the worst I've ever seen since I've been here," Ramos said.
Typhoon Lupit had weakened and slowed down in the last 48 hours and is now expected to make landfall by Sunday morning in Cagayan province, the weather bureau said.
It may have a storm warning area of up to 430 kilometres by Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The weather bureau advised residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under storm signals to stay alert for possible flashfloods and landslides.
Rescue teams were on standby in areas that will likely be affected by the typhoon.
More than 20 provinces are currently under storm signals.
Ketsana and Parma killed more than 850 people, and damaged or destroyed more than 27 billion pesos ($580 million U.S. dollar) in crops and infrastructure. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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