Philippines prepares for Typhoon Lupit
Philippines prepares for Typhoon Lupit
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Monday, 19, Oct 2009 10:42
By Richard James
Authorities in the Philippines have begun evacuating people and stock-piling food in anticipation of Typhoon Lupit.
The storm is expected to make landfall on Thursday and bring winds of up to 143 mph. Meteorologists have warned of mass flooding and extensive damage to small residences.
Authorities are determined to learn lessons from recent deadly storms and prevent any loss of life.
Huge storms on September 26th and October 3rd killed more than 850 people.
Hundreds of people are still living in evacuation shelters following Typhoon Parma and will remain so until after the latest storm strikes.
Loreto Espineli, police chief in Benguet province, told the Associated Press news agency authorities were even willing to make people evacuate low-lying areas against their will this week.
"We will force then to leave if they don't want to. It is easier to evacuate people than to dig for bodies in mudslides," he said.
The country's capital Manila which was hit with the worst flooding in four decades after Tropical Storm Ketsana struck in September is likely to be unaffected by the typhoon.