Typhoon Kills 10 in Philippines, Stalks Taiwan

Posted August 28th, 2011 at 5:05 pm (UTC-5)
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Taiwan is bracing for a deadly typhoon headed north from the Philippines, where it lashed the main island of Luzon with torrential rains and high winds, leaving at least 10 people dead.

The Typhoon Nanmadol is expected to make landfall in Taiwan Monday, striking near the port city of Khaosiung before raking the island's eastern coast. Authorities evacuated about 2,500 people from the east and south of the island Sunday.

The slow-moving typhoon battered northern Philippines Saturday and Sunday, triggering floods and landslides that toppled walls and blocked roads in the northern Philippines. Authorities say the death toll may rise as several people are still missing and are believed to be swept away by flood waters. Many others have been injured.

At least 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes.

Authorities say about 20 tropical cyclones enter Philippine territory in a typical year and, of those, 6 to 9 normally make landfall. The country's deadliest storm on record struck eastern islands of the archipelago in November 1991, killing an estimated 7,000 people.