THOUSANDS TO BE EVACUATED AHEAD OF TYPHOON

Typhoon Lupit was located approximately 600 mi/965 km northeast of Manila. Lupit is tracking west-northwest at 9 mph/8 kt and has maximum sustained winds of up to 110 mph/95 kt and with gusts of up to 132 mph/115 kt. Lupit will be affected by a high-pressure system, moving the storm more to the west-southwest over the next five days. Lupit is expected to increase in intensity over the next 24-hours; however, it will weaken as it tracks over Luzon. Authorities in the northern Luzon region of the Philippines are evacuating tens of thousands of residents from areas prone to flooding and landslides, including in Metro Manila. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the forced relocation of urban poor communities living near waterways. The typhoon is expected to make landfall on 22 October, dumping heavy rains on areas that were recently devastated from two other typhoons that brought record rainfall to the capital Manila and caused the deaths of more than 850 people. Current projections indicate that Lupit will primarily affect Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte and Batanes. Although Manila is not expected to receive the brunt of the storm, heavy rainfall and some flooding is expected in the capital over the next several days.