AP News, December 10th, 2006
Thousands of people in an area devastated by a powerful typhoon last week in the eastern Philippines were told to evacuate Saturday after another storm slammed into the central part of the country.
Typhoon Utor, packing sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, made landfall in the town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar province at noon.
The new typhoon's path was just south of the eastern Bicol region where more than 1,000 people were killed or left missing after Typhoon Durian struck last week.
Fernando Gonzales, governor of the worst-hit province of Albay, said about 15,000 people from a dozen villages were ordered evacuated to temporary shelters in government buildings, schools and churches until the storm passed.
"What we are trying to avoid here is people getting trapped," he said.
Utor's track indicated it could hit the popular island resort of Boracay before blowing farther west toward the South China Sea. Forecasters warned there could be storm surges or big waves that could hit the island.
The coast guard halted 43 ferry services in the areas affected by the typhoon, stranding more than 2,000 passengers.
Typhoon Utor also prompted the postponement of next week's Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the East Asia summits in central Cebu city and nearby Mactan island, Philippine organizers said.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council in Manila said more than 100,000 people already were at evacuation centers following last week's typhoon.
Durian unleashed tons of rocks and other volcanic debris from the slopes of the Mayon volcano, sending walls of mud and boulders on helpless villages.
Many residents whose houses were destroyed or covered in debris have returned to salvage personal belongings, sometimes sleeping in makeshift tents or huts.
In Cebu, Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsongkram said his government donated 1,000 sacks of rice for the typhoon victims.
Japan on Saturday said it will offer aid of up to $1 million to mudslide victims. The pledge comes on top of $172,000 Japan has already promised in emergency supplies including tents, blankets and other emergency goods for survivors.
