Powerful typhoon threatens Philippines, thousands evacuated

MANILA, Philippines — Tens of thousands of people were being evacuated to safety in the southern and central Philippines on Thursday as a powerful typhoon approached and as authorities were warning the public to avoid crowds after the first infections caused by the omicron strain of the coronavirus were reported in the country, officials said. Forecasters said they last tracked Typhoon Rai, which has sustained winds of 115 miles per hour and gusts of up to 143 mph, about 109 miles east of southern Surigao del Norte province. It was blowing northwestward at 15 mph. The typhoon, locally called Odette, was expected to slam into the Dinagat Islands in the country’s southeast later Thursday, forecasters said.-- More...