14 Aug 2013

Northern Philippines hit by typhoon

12:01 pm on 14 August 2013

Thousands of residents in the northern Philippines are homeless after a typhoon on Monday.

The national disaster agency said at least two people died and 11 were missing in the wake of Typhoon Utor. More than 100,000 people are affected in three cities in 14 provinces.

The BBC reports Utor made landfall in the north of the main island of Luzon early on Monday, with winds of up to 210km per hour and heavy rain.

Typhoon Utor is forecast to move across the northern part of the South China Sea and make landfall in China's Guangdong province on Wednesday night.

Xinhua news agency reported a weather alert has already been issued.

The typhoon is one of 20 forecast to hit the Philippines this year.

In 2011, Typhoon Washi left about 1300 people dead when it struck northern Mindanao and Typhoon Bopha left more than 1000 people dead in 2012.