Typhoon Koppu makes landfall in Philippines

Typhoon Koppu, locally named Lando, made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora Province of northeastern Philippines at around 1 a.m. Sunday, the local disaster reduction authority said.

As of 10 a.m., the typhoon was centered in the vicinity of Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija and moving west-northwest at a speed of 5 km per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour, with winds reaching 185 km per hour.

Some 16,000 people have been evacuated in anticipation of possible geological disasters, according to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

NDRRMC executive director and concurrent Office of Civil Defense administrator Alexander Pama said classes were suspended in 27 provinces starting from Saturday due to the typhoon.

Also, he said 38 domestic and two international flights were cancelled due to bad weather.

He said 14 road sections and 10 bridges are not passable due to flooding and landslides in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol and Car.

Power interruptions were reported in parts of San Fernando City in La Union and 18 municipalities in Ilocos region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon. "Province-wide power outages were reported in Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Apayao and Kalinga," added Pama.

Pama said communication lines were downed in the towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran, and Dilasag, all in Aurora Province.

In his press briefing, Pama said 5,580 passengers were also stranded in various ports in "due to rough sea condition."