Philippines orders 200,000 to evacuate as Typhoon Goni nears (update)

Coast guard search and rescue officers evacuating residents from the coastal villages of Buhi town, Camarines Sur province, south of Manila, to a safer place, ahead of Typhoon Goni's landfall. - AFP

MANILA, Oct 31 (AFP): More than 200,000 people in the Philippines were ordered to evacuate their homes on Saturday as the most powerful typhoon of the year so far barrels towards the country, with authorities warning of "destructive" winds and storm surges.

Typhoon Goni is expected to graze the southeastern tip of the main island of Luzon early Sunday before making landfall in the afternoon with wind speeds of up to 205 kilometres (127 miles) per hour, the state weather forecaster said.