A powerful typhoon has torn through the central
Philippines, bringing howling winds that toppled
trees and power poles and cut off communications
in areas where thousands were killed by a
massive storm just over a year ago.
Hagupit, which days earlier had reached category
5 super typhoon strength as it churned across
the Pacific Ocean, has now weakened to category
2 as it made a second landfall.
Over a million people fled to shelters in
what a U.N. agency described as one of the
world's biggest peacetime evacuations.
Heavy rain and violent winds buffeted Calbayog
City in Samar.
Flood waters blocked city streets and coastal
areas, preventing evacuees from going home
right after the storm had passed.
Local radio reported at least four people
were killed in Eastern Samar, but that could
not be confirmed by officials.
