Supertyphoon lands in Philippines, forces mass evacution

Debris float on a flooded road as strong winds and rain continue to batter buildings after Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban city, Leyte province in this still image from video Nov 8, 2013. Haiyan, potentially the strongest recorded typhoon to make landfall, slammed into the Philippines' central islands on Friday, forcing millions of people to flee to safer ground or take refuge in storm shelters.[Photo/Agencies]

MANILA -- At least 125,604 people have evacuated to safe places as typhoon "Haiyan", believed to be the strongest cyclone of this year in the world, made a landfall over Guiuan municipality in eastern Samar of the Philippines Friday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said typhoon "Haiyan" (local name Yolanda) made its second landfall over Leyte province in the country's eastern coast at 7 am local time. The center of the typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 235 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 275 kph.

In Surigao Del Nore, 28,807 people were evacuated.

"No reports of casualties have been received, but Siargao Island is in total blackout. Five houses have been totally damaged, four others were partially damaged," said Albert Caber, spokesman eastern mindanao command of the Armed Forces of the Philippine.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), typhoon warning signal No 4, which means winds of 185 kph may be expected in 12 hours, has been hoisted in 25 provinces in central and southern Philippines.

Classes were suspended in Visayas and Mindanao regions.