Typhoon Goni Hits the Philippines At least 7 people died and 400,000 residents evacuated

Typhoon No. 19, feared as the strongest typhoon this year, struck the Philippines, killing at least 7 people.

The Philippine meteorological authorities said through a weather warning at 5 am local time today (1st) that a'super typhoon' cygnus, which reaches a maximum wind speed of 310 km/h, has landed in the Catanduanes region of eastern Philippines.

The cygnus then moved westward through densely populated areas of southern Luzon and Metro Manila.

However, after landing in the Bicol region of Albei Province, the Typhoon Goni was slightly weakened and the rating was downgraded, foreign media reported.

As the typhoon passed, at least seven people were reported to have died in the Bicol region, Governor Al-Frances Vichara Albay said on radio.

Disaster Management Commissioner Ricardo Hallard corrected the number of evacuated residents at the shelter, which was estimated at around 1 million the day before, to about 400,000, according to a foreign report.

Manila International Airport closed the airport for 24 hours from 10 am following the landing of Typhoon Goni.

Philippine meteorological authorities predicted typhoon Goni would escape tonight from Luzon Island, home to more than half of the population, including Metro Manila, of 57 million people.

(Photo = Getty Image Korea)