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Visayas, southern Luzon suffer early destruction from Yolanda


Parts of Visayas and Southern Luzon saw destruction caused by super Typhoon Yolanda Friday morning, according to reports on "Balitanghali."

Fleeing residents, falling trees, landslides, and the lashing of strong winds at trees and houses were shown on television screens as Yolanda, considered the strongest typhoon in the world that ever hit land, rammed through central Philippines.

Still recovering from the effects of a magnitude-7.2 earthquake on Oct. 15, Bohol suffered another blow with the landslide in Cortes town, although no casualty was reported, the report said.

Another "Balitanghali" report showed the destruction of the barangay hall in Dapdap in Uson town, Masbate.

Meanwhile, In Guinobatan, Albay, the TV news program showed the roof of a house almost ripped off by strong winds.

In Cebu, a portion of the Transcentral Highway was blocked by a tree that was knocked down by Yolanda's winds.

Meanwhile, in Aklan, where prime beach destination Boracay is located, residents in coastal communiteis were forced to evacuate while tourists were asked to stay in hotels, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores told "Balitanghali."

Moreover, Miraflores said the local government had asked hotel managers in Boracay to allow tourists to stay in the hotels at least until Saturday.

Yolanda made its first landfall in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, early Friday morning. It has since made at least two more landfalls as it steamrolls through central Philippines, heading north-northwest towards Panay, Mindoro and finally northern Palawan before its projected exit from the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday afternoon.

Yolanda is officially the fourth strongest tropical cyclone in world history in terms of overall strength. — Marc Jason Cayabyab /LBG, GMA News

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