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Philippines storm changes course Philippines storm changes course
(about 17 hours later)
Typhoon Mitag has changed course and is now expected to hit the northern Philippines on Sunday, rather than the central Bicol region. Typhoon Mitag has changed course and is now expected to hit the northern Philippines on Sunday, rather than the more populous central Bicol region.
Tens of thousands of evacuees in Bicol will now be able to return home. Evacuees in Bicol will now be able to return home, but people in the north have been told to leave their homes.
But officials have now ordered evacuations in northern provinces as fears of lethal mudslides grow. The army has declared a ceasefire with local communist rebels so that troops can focus on damage prevention.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, evacuees are returning home after Typhoon Hagibis - which left 13 dead in the Philippines last week - changed course. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, evacuees are returning home after Typhoon Hagibis weakened and changed course.
Forecasters said Mitag was gathering intensity off the coast of the Philippines and was expected to make landfall in the north-western Philippine provinces of Aurora and Isabela on Sunday night.Forecasters said Mitag was gathering intensity off the coast of the Philippines and was expected to make landfall in the north-western Philippine provinces of Aurora and Isabela on Sunday night.
Super typhoon?Super typhoon?
Government forecaster Nathaniel Cruz told the Associated Press there was a "strong possibility of storm surges".Government forecaster 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 km/h (137mph).He noted that Mitag could intensify into a "super typhoon" with winds reaching 220 km/h (137mph).
"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.
Officials said that people in the central Albay region of the Philippines were especially relieved when the storm changed course.Officials said that people in the central Albay region of the Philippines were especially relieved when the storm changed course.
Animated guide: TyphoonsAnimated guide: Typhoons
The province is still recovering from last year's Typhoon Durian which triggered flash floods and volcanic mudslides that killed more than 1,000 people.The province is still recovering from last year's Typhoon Durian which triggered flash floods and volcanic mudslides that killed more than 1,000 people.
In Vietnam, soldiers and police helped people return to their homes after Typhoon Hagibis lost its power and changed course, officials announced. In Vietnam, soldiers and police helped people return to their homes after Typhoon Hagibis - which left 13 dead in the Philippines last week - lost its power and changed course, officials announced.
The typhoon has now been downgraded to a tropical storm and is heading out to sea, according to Vietnamese forecasters.The typhoon has now been downgraded to a tropical storm and is heading out to sea, according to Vietnamese forecasters.
Meanwhile, a search is under way for at least 25 Filipino sailors whose boat capsized after being lashed by high winds in the South China Sea.Meanwhile, a search is under way for at least 25 Filipino sailors whose boat capsized after being lashed by high winds in the South China Sea.