Typhoon strands thousands in RP

Typhoon strands thousands in RP

TACLOBAN, Philippines (Reuters): Typhoon Babs marched toward the central Philippines on Wednesday, stranding thousands of people and prompting many to move out of low-lying areas along its path.

Babs, with winds gusting up to 235 kilometers per hour near its center, was expected to hit Albay and Catanduanes provinces later on Wednesday, meteorologists said.

Both provinces are part of the Bicol region, a key coconut growing area 400 km southeast of capital city Manila.

Early on Wednesday, the typhoon was 180 km southeast of Legazpi city, about 300 km southeast of Manila, and was moving west-northwest at 17 km per hour.

Nearly 1,000 families were evacuated from coastal towns in Sorsogon province as Babs approached nearby Albay, Sorsogon congressman Francis Escudero said.