Surigae: Strong April typhoon lashes the Philippines

One person died and thousands were displaced in storm-hit Philippines

Waves crash the shore as Super Typhoon Surigae moves close to the Philippines in Gigmoto (JOHN EMMANUEL TAYO via REUTERS)

Typhoon Surigae has lashed parts of the eastern Philippines, dumping heavy rains and displacing hundreds of people.

Winds reached 195 kilometres per hour, the country’s meteorological agency said.

The typhoon is no longer classified as a “super typhoon” after it weakened on Sunday. But it is still a powerful typhoon equivalent to a category 4 hurricane.

Heavy to moderate rains have caused flash-flood like situation over the Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions with 57,000 people displaced, according to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

One person died after suffering a head injury after an uprooted tree fell on him in San Isidro village, Southern Leyte. The 79-year-old man was declared dead in hospital, reported the Maharlika news website.

Until now more than 22 villages have been flooded after the cyclone dumped heavy rains and several areas suffered power outages.

People stand in cover on a flooded market as Super Typhoon Surigae moves close to the Philippines in the province of Catbalogan (DJ RJ RENE CASTINO via REUTERS)

More than 2,213 passengers are stranded on seaports along with 96 cargoes, and 61 vessels after more than a dozen of sea trips were cancelled in the wake of the typhoon.

According to the latest update on Monday by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in next 24 hours, other areas could be affected.

Surigae was the most intense typhoon observed over the northwestern Pacific or anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in the month of April, very early in the season.

It will move parallel to the central and eastern Philippines before moving towards the north near southern Japan.

A signal 2 alert (on its 1 to 5 scale for wind impacts) was issued in parts of Luzon, Visayas, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Mindanao, said PAGASA.