Typhoon Mina swamps Philippines

November 25, 2007

Typhoon Mina has wrecked havoc in the Philippines already - and killed six people - as thousands are evacuating ahead of the storm.

Emergency authorities were watching to see if Tropical Storm Lando would re-enter the Philippines.

MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 25 -- Typhoon Mina killed six people in the Philippines as tens of thousands of others battened down or evacuated Sunday ahead of the storm.

Mina, expected to make landfall Monday, was blamed for the drowning of five people and electrocution of another in the Philippine province of Camarines Sur, said PNA, the official government Philippines news agency.

Thousands of families Sunday evacuated their homes in Isabela, Cagayan and Northern Luzon as Mina was forecast to track through those regions and over Ilocos Norte Monday and Tuesday, PNA reported.

Emergency authorities were watching to see if Tropical Storm Lando would re-enter the Philippines and merge with Mina, or another slow-moving storm system, near Palawan early in the week, PNA reported.