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Supertyphoon Megi weakens, may exit the Philippines

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-18 22:04
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Supertyphoon Megi weakens, may exit the Philippines
A resident walks past a fallen tree as super typhoon Megi, known locally as Juan, hits Baguio City, north of Manila Oct 18, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

MANILA - Supertyphoon Megi has weakened and is expected to exit the Philippines Monday night, the state weather forecasting agency said.

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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 5:00 pm, local time, Megi has weakened after crossing the Sierra Madre mountain range in northern Philippines. The eye of the storm is at 60 kilometers southwest of Tuguegarao city, with maximum winds of 180 kilometers per hour. Magi is expected to exit along the western coast of the La Union and Ilocos Sur provinces by Monday, 11:00 pm or Tuesday, 1:00 am

Pagasa has placed the provinces of Cagayan Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Mt. Province, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte and La Union under storm signal number three.

Megi caused landslides that led to the closure of main roads, inundated farmlands and damaged power lines that caused widespread black outs in northern Philippines.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Officer and Office of Civil Defense Administrator Benito Ramos said a farmer Vicente Decena, who drowned at the Cagayan river, is the first reported casualty of Megi.

Ramos said about 781 families or 3,687 individuals from northern Philippines have been evacuated.

Ramos said they have yet to establish the cost of damage incurred from the typhoon to property, including agriculture and infrastructure. He said that as soon as the weather condition improves, they will assess the damages wrought by Megi.

"After the typhoon, we will establish emergency response teams to conduct damage and needs assessment for the two provinces ( Isabela and Cagayan)," Ramos said.

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