Winds up to 200 km / h and torrential rains struck the north of the country. The missing men all come from Catuandes island that overlooks the eastern coast of the province of Luzon. Manila has hit by heavy rain, but no damage.

Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A powerful typhoon has been lashing the northern Philippines since early morning: at least 23 fishermen are missing and several provinces are without electricity. According to initial reports Utor - the name given to the cyclone - has winds of up to 200 km / h and will not leave the archipelago before this evening, when it is forecast to move along the southern coast of China.

Torrential rains have also hit the capital Manila, where authorities have ordered the closure of some schools. So far there has been no reported damage. Several domestic flights were canceled.

The most affected areas are the province of Aurora, without power, and the Bicol region, where more than a thousand people spent the night in shelters.

The missing fishermen are all from the province of Cataduandes, an island that is located in the Bicol region. The authorities hope that the 23 men sought shelter in the surrounding islets, waiting for the storm to pass.

Of the average 20 typhoons that hit the Philippines per year, Utor is the 12th of 2013.

 

• Philippines
• typhoon
• utor
• islands
• raind
• winds
• fishermen
• damage