Philippines: Typhoon Noul weakens, leaves 2 dead
Weakens Monday, after tearing across Philippines' northeast, leaving two people dead and thousands in temporary accommodation.
By Roy Ramos and Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Typhoon Noul weakened Monday after tearing across the Philippines' northeast, leaving two people dead and thousands in temporary accommodation.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said more than 3,000 people had been evacuated in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela when Noul lashed coastal villages.
They started returning home Sunday night as the storm - at one point packing gusts up to 195 kilometers - moved towards the Batanes group of islands in the country's northernmost region.
The council said in a televised briefing that two men - aged 74 and 46 - were fixing the roof of a house in Aparri, Cagayan, amid strong wind and rains when they were electrocuted around midday Sunday.
They were pronounced dead on arrival in a local hospital.
Officials said the number of casualties was minimal despite the strength of the storm - the fourth to hit the country this year.
"People have learned lessons from previous storms. They know the consequences if they are not going to listen to government warnings," said Alexander Pama, the council's executive director.
The state weather agency - Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration - said Noul's winds were powerful enough to destroy houses, cause storm surges and damage crops, but as of Monday morning, there was were little reports of major damage.
It added that the storm will be 240 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes, by Tuesday morning, and will exit the Philippines early Wednesday.
It warned, however, that the storm - locally called Dodong - could cause waves of up to 14 meters high.
"Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said in a statement.
An average of 20 typhoons cross the Philippines every year.
In November 2003, Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines, leaving more than 8,000 dead, missing and injured.
