Mass evacuation as typhoon Utor batters central Philippines

LEGASPI, Philippines - Typhoon Utor tore Sunday across the central Philippines, killing at least one person and forcing nearly 67,000 to evacuate as officials battled to avoid a second disaster within 10 days.

The mass evacuation was intended to avert any repeat of the devastation of super typhoon Durian just over a week ago which unleashed massive mudslides in the eastern Bicol region that left more than 1,000 people dead or missing.

Utor has already forced the government to postpone two key regional summits this week in the central island of Cebu, which is in the path of the storm - although sources say the real reason may be a terror threat.

In all, 66,700 people were evacuated nationwide ahead of Utor's onslaught, more than 59,000 of them in Bicol alone even though the storm was not expected to hit the region directly.

As of 4:00 am Sunday (2000 GMT Saturday), Utor was 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of the central island of Romblon, packing maximum winds of 120 kilometers near the center and moving northwest.

By late Sunday, it was expected to be over the southern half of the island of Mindoro.

As heavy rains lashed the Bicol region, families huddled in schools and churches serving as evacuation centers, sleeping on mats and cardboard sheets laid upon concrete floors.

Some of those evacuated were allowed to return home but others were told to stay in the evacuation centers due to fears the continuing rains would result in new mudslides.

When typhoon Durian struck on November 30, its rains mixed with tonnes of volcanic ash on the slopes of Mayon volcano around 350 kilometers (217 miles) southeast of Manila, resulting in massive mudslides that buried whole towns.

Power, water and communications lines across much of the region remain out of action.

Agence France-Presse