ADVERTISEMENTMore than five million people were at risk from the storm, which the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center downgraded from a super typhoon. Ompong, however, was still punching powerful winds and gusts equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane when it hit the Philippines. Tolentino, who was assigned by Duterte to help coordinate disaster response, said at least two other people were missing. Storm warnings remained in effect in 10 northern provinces, including Cagayan, which could still be lashed by devastating winds, forecasters said. In Hong Kong, Security Minister John Lee Ka-chiu urged residents to prepare for the worst as the storm barreled toward the southern Chinese city.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 15, 2018 15:22 UTC