OCHA Flash Update No.2 Philippines | Typhoon Koppu - 18 October 2015

This is an OCHA Flash Update on Typhoon Koppu.

Typhoon Koppu (locally known as Lando) made landfall over the town of Casiguran in Aurora province in Central Luzon as a Category 3 typhoon on 18 October, 1 a.m. local time, and remained almost stationary for more than four hours, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The typhoon slightly weakened upon landfall, now packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gusts of up to 210 kph. It significantly slowed down from 12 kph to 3 kph as it continues to move west.

Heavy to intense rainfall is estimated within the 600-km diameter of the typhoon. The national weather bureau warns that storm surge may reach up to 4 m in Aurora and neighboring provinces and wave height in open sea may reach up to 14 m or higher.

Nearly 3,600 families (14,300 people) have evacuated so far, of which 3,300 families (13,000 people) are in 108 evacuation centres.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council foresees emergency communications, food and non-food items and emergency shelter as priority needs. The Office of Civil Defense has requested the Philippines Humanitarian Country Team to place communications teams and equipment on standby.

The next Flash Update will be issued as soon as more information is available.

For more information, contact:

Mark Bidder, ActingHead of Office, bidder@un.org, Mobile: +63-917-524-2928.

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