Super Typhoon Noul clipped the northeastern Philippines on Sunday, prompting thousands of people to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

The storm, referred to as Dodong in the Philippines, hit land Sunday afternoon at the northeastern tip of the island of Luzon, near the small town of Santa Ana, according to PAGASA, the Philippine government agency that monitors the weather.

Noul's outer bands had lashed Luzon's eastern coast through the afternoon as it drew nearer, packing maximum sustained winds of about 260 kph (160 mph) and gusts as strong as 315 kph (195 mph).

Super Typhoon Noul howls over northeastern tip of Philippines

By Jethro Mullen, CNN

Updated 0351 GMT (1051 HKT) May 11, 2015

Super Typhoon Noul begins to lash Philippines 01:36

Story highlights

• No casualties reported, damage not as significant as feared, official says
• The super typhoon hit land Sunday at the northeastern tip of the island of Luzon

(CNN)Super Typhoon Noul clipped the northeastern Philippines on Sunday, prompting thousands of people to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

The storm, referred to as Dodong in the Philippines, hit land Sunday afternoon at the northeastern tip of the island of Luzon, near the small town of Santa Ana, according to PAGASA, the Philippine government agency that monitors the weather.

Noul's outer bands had lashed Luzon's eastern coast through the afternoon as it drew nearer, packing maximum sustained winds of about 260 kph (160 mph) and gusts as strong as 315 kph (195 mph).

Authorities said they relocated about 3,800 residents of vulnerable areas to evacuation centers ahead of the typhoon's arrival.

No casualties caused by the storm were reported early Monday and the damage wasn't "as significant" as authorities had feared, said Alex Pama, an official at the national disaster management agency.

On Monday, the storm weakened as it started to change direction. Noul's maximum sustained winds were around 195 kph (120 mph), no longer super-typhoon strength.

It's forecast to curve toward the northeast in the direction of Japan's Okinawa Islands, losing strength as it advances.

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