The Philippines' meteorological agency reported that Typhoon Rai, one of the strongest storms to hit the country this year, made landfall on Siargao Island in the southern Philippines.
After a typhoon hit the Philippines on Thursday afternoon, tens of thousands of people were forced to flee to safety. Due to the threat of flash floods and storm surge, more than 45,000 people in the central Philippines and northern Mindanao, including coastal towns, have been evacuated to safety, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Rai intensified further as it reached Siargao in Surigao del Norte province, with maximum winds of 195 km/h and gusts of up to 240 km/h when it crashed into the island at 1:30 p.m. local time, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (5:30 GMT).
The Philippine Coast Guard reported that the typhoon threat has trapped about 4,000 people, nearly 1,800 rolling cargos, and more than 80 vessels in the central Philippines, Bicol region, and northeastern Mindanao.
Ben Evardone, the governor of Eastern Samar province, said approximately 30,000 people had been evacuated from 21 of the region's 23 municipalities.
Typhoon Rai nears Philippines, mass evacuation intensifies
