More than 150,000 evacuate in the Philippines as typhoon approaches

By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — More than 150,000 people evacuated to safer ground in eastern Philippine provinces Monday as a typhoon approached from the Pacific, with authorities warning of torrential rains, potentially destructive winds and storm surges of nearly 10 feet.

Typhoon Kalmaegi was forecast to slam into shore Monday night or early Tuesday. It was last spotted about 59 miles southeast of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar province, with sustained winds of up to 87 miles per hour and gusts of up to 106 mph.

It was expected to blow westward and batter central island provinces, including Cebu , which is still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 30 that left at least 79 dead and displaced thousands of people when houses collapsed or were se