Typhoon Goni leaves at least seven dead and two missing, hitting the northern Philippines with strong rains and winds that triggered landslides and flood, authorities said in a report.

At least seven people killed and two missing Saturday after typhoon Goni hits the northern Philippines with strong rain and winds that triggered landslides and flooding, authorities said in a report.

Among the dead are two brothers who died when a landslide buried a temporary shelter where they took cover in the mountain province of Benguet. AP reports said that three died from landslide and another man died after a tree fell due to the strong winds.

The typhoon, which has slightly weakened, expected to move away from the country without making a landfall, according to reports.

Local government units have suspended classes in several towns in Manila and nearby provinces due to floodings and danger from the strong winds in northern Luzon areas on Saturday, reports said.

The government’s weather agency said the typhoon was at sea about 125 kilometers east of northern Calayan Island. Typhoon Goni was 165 kilometres northeast of the northern province of Cagayan on Saturday morning, with winds of up to 195kph, according to the state weather bureau.

Hundreds of families were moved to storm shelters in the north and Flights and ferry trips are canceled, reports said.

Typhoon Goni will be passing east of Taiwan and head toward Okinawa, Japan, early next week. People were evacuated from outlying islands and troops are on standby for disaster relief as it takes precautions against strong winds and heavy rains expected this weekend, according to weather bureau.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau said early Saturday that a land warning may not be issued for the typhoon in the country, but people will have to prepare for heavy to torrential rain during the weekend.

Goni is the ninth of about 20 storms and typhoons that are expected to hit the Philippines this year, the weather bureau said. IMAGE by Reuters