Manila (EFE).- Typhoon Matmo, known locally as \u201cPaolo,\u201d with sustained winds up to 130kmph and gusts reaching 215kmph, made landfall Friday in northern Luzon, the third typhoon to strike the Philippines in under two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Philippine weather bureau PAGASA said the storm struck near the northeastern town of Dinapigue, Isabela, at about 9 a.m. local time (1 a.m. GMT). It warned of \u201cmoderate to heavy with occasional intense rainfall,\u201d especially in the Cagayan Valley region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authorities urged residents to take \u201cprecautionary measures\u201d against risks including flooding, landslides and flashfloods, particularly in mountainous and riverine areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After traversing northern Luzon, Matmo is expected to move into the South China Sea, where it may hit southern Guangdong province in China by Sunday, if it maintains its current course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Philippines commonly faces about 20 typhoons or tropical storms annually, mostly between June and December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just last week, Typhoon Bualoi struck central Philippines, claiming at least 10 lives, displacing hundreds of thousands, and later contributing to 51 deaths in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before that, Super Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest storm of the year globally, passed through northern Philippines on Sept. 22, killing at least eight people there. EFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sr\/lds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"