Supertyphoon "Smash": 1 year after Haiyan, Philippines braces for powerful, erratic typhoon

A wide swath of the Philippines, including the capital Manila, braced Friday for a dangerously erratic and powerful typhoon approaching from the Pacific, a year after the country was lashed by Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead. Typhoon Hagupit – Filipino for “smash” – strengthened overnight with its sustained winds intensifying to 215 kilometers (134 miles) per hour and gusts of 250 kph (155 mph). The local weather agency PAGASA’s forecasts show the typhoon may hit Eastern Samar province late Saturday or early Sunday.