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| Many flee from Philippines storm | Many flee from Philippines storm |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people are being moved from their homes in the Philippines as emergency crews prepare for the oncoming Typhoon Mitag. | Tens of thousands of people are being moved from their homes in the Philippines as emergency crews prepare for the oncoming Typhoon Mitag. |
| The storm, packing 175km/h (109mph) winds, is expected to strike in the Bicol region on Saturday and could hit the capital, Manila, the following day. | The storm, packing 175km/h (109mph) winds, is expected to strike in the Bicol region on Saturday and could hit the capital, Manila, the following day. |
| Officials fear the typhoon could cause lethal mudslides in some areas. | Officials fear the typhoon could cause lethal mudslides in some areas. |
| Meanwhile, Vietnam is bracing itself for Typhoon Hagibis, which left 13 dead in the Philippines earlier this week. | Meanwhile, Vietnam is bracing itself for Typhoon Hagibis, which left 13 dead in the Philippines earlier this week. |
| Thousand of people are being evacuated by the Vietnamese authorities, and a search is under way for at least 25 sailors whose boat capsized after being lashed by high winds in the South China Sea. | |
| 'Forced evacuations' | 'Forced evacuations' |
| Forecasters said Mitag had slowed and was gathering intensity off the eastern islands of the Philippines. | Forecasters said Mitag had slowed and was gathering intensity off the eastern islands of the Philippines. |
| Government meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz told the Associated Press there was a "strong possibility of storm surges". | Government meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz told the Associated Press there was a "strong possibility of storm surges". |
| He noted that Mitag could intensify into a "super typhoon" with winds reaching 220 kph. | He noted that Mitag could intensify into a "super typhoon" with winds reaching 220 kph. |
| "The end result is that more things will be blown down and destroyed," he said. | "The end result is that more things will be blown down and destroyed," he said. |
| Joey Salceda, governor of Bicol's Albay province, said more than 60,000 people had been evacuated. | Joey Salceda, governor of Bicol's Albay province, said more than 60,000 people had been evacuated. |
| But he told the Philippines Daily Inquirer newspaper hundreds of thousands more still needed to be moved, and that the authorities were now carrying out "forced evacuations". | But he told the Philippines Daily Inquirer newspaper hundreds of thousands more still needed to be moved, and that the authorities were now carrying out "forced evacuations". |
| Classes in Albay's public schools have been suspended so the buildings can be converted into shelters. | Classes in Albay's public schools have been suspended so the buildings can be converted into shelters. |
| Military and police trucks are being used to transport residents to evacuation centres. | Military and police trucks are being used to transport residents to evacuation centres. |
| The Japan Meteorological Agency said Manila was in the storm warning area, with the outer edges of the typhoon's centre due to pass the capital on Sunday. | The Japan Meteorological Agency said Manila was in the storm warning area, with the outer edges of the typhoon's centre due to pass the capital on Sunday. |
| Reuters reported that workers were dismantling advertisement billboards placed along the capital's major roads, fearing they could collapse and kill people. | Reuters reported that workers were dismantling advertisement billboards placed along the capital's major roads, fearing they could collapse and kill people. |
| Earlier, President Gloria Arroyo gave the order to evacuate those at risk. | Earlier, President Gloria Arroyo gave the order to evacuate those at risk. |
| She said she did not want a repeat of last year's Typhoon Durian - which killed hundreds and left tens of thousands homeless, mainly in the Bicol region. | She said she did not want a repeat of last year's Typhoon Durian - which killed hundreds and left tens of thousands homeless, mainly in the Bicol region. |