Thousands Flee Philippines Typhoon

More than 40,000 people in the southern Philippines fled their homes Tuesday as Typhoon Bopha made landfall at dawn. Touching down on Mindanao island—home to 10 million people—packing gusts of up to 130mph, the government raced to open nearly 1,000 government shelters for the displaced to take refuge. While there have been no immediate reports of causalities or major damage, all aviation and shipping services have been suspended and school holidays in Mindanao and the central Philippines declared. President Benigno Aquino allegedly ordered army troops with search and rescue boats to help evacuate villagers.