Typhoon Mangkhut kills 12

Tuguegarao, Philippines Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm.

The most ferocious typhoon to hit the disasterprone Philippines this year slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the northeastern tip of Luzon island.

More than 5 million people were at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded from a super typhoon. Mangkhut was still punching winds and gusts equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines.