Thousands flee as typhoon menaces Philippines

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in storm-battered parts of the Philippines yesterday as the third typhoon in as many weeks barrelled towards the country. Vamco was expected to graze Catanduanes Island -- which was devastated by Typhoon Goni less than two weeks ago -- before making landfall on the most populous island of Luzon later Wednesday or early Thursday. Destructive winds and torrential rain were expected in parts of central and southern Luzon, the state weather forecaster said. The Bicol region, which Vamco will cross as it heads towards Manila, is still reeling from deadly typhoons Molave and Goni, which killed dozens of people and left thousands of families homeless.