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.