SUPER TYPHOON SLAMS INTO THE EASTERN PHILIPPINES

Manila, Philippines — A super typhoon slammed into the eastern Philippines with “catastrophic violent winds” early today and about a million people have been evacuated in its projected path, including in the capital where the main international airport has been ordered closed, officials said. Typhoon Goni hit the coast of the eastern island province of Catanduanes at dawn with sustained winds of 140 mph and gusts of 174 mph. It was blowing westward toward densely populated regions, including Manila, and rain- soaked provinces still recovering from a typhoon that hit a week ago and left at least 22 dead, the Philippine weather agency said. One of the most powerful typhoons to hit any country in the world this year, Goni has evoked memories of Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead and missing, flattened entire villages, swept ships inland and displaced more than 5 million in November 2013 in the central Philippines.