Typhoon Chanthu hits Philippines, causing hundreds to evacuate

Once categorised as a super typhoon, the storm hit Batanes province and is moving towards Taiwan, which says it is unlikely to make landfall

Meanwhile, Vietnam is bracing for Tropical Storm Conson, which will be the fifth storm to hit the country this year

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Villagers wade though floodwaters after the Philippines was hit by two major tropical storms in a week. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:13pm, 11 Sep 2021Updated: 9:13pm, 11 Sep 2021

Typhoon Chanthu slammed into the northern Philippines on Saturday, forcing hundreds to flee their homes amid heavy rains and strong winds, officials said.

Chanthu was packing maximum sustained winds of 205km/h as it made landfall over Batanes province, 678km north of Manila, the weather bureau said.

It was moving northwest at 15km/h, and was expected to cross over Batanes into the sea east of Taiwan on Saturday night, it added.

The national disaster agency said 415 people were forced to evacuate in the nearby provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, amid warnings of rain-induced landslides and flash floods.

Taiwan downgraded Chanthu to a medium typhoon on Saturday, saying that while it would bring heavy rain and gusting winds to most of the island, it was unlikely to make direct landfall.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau said the storm, which was at one point categorised a super typhoon, was losing strength as it headed up the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines.