Typhoon Koppu reached the Philippines early Sunday with strong winds and heavy rains, as forecasters said the storm was moving slowly through the islands.
The typhoon made landfall near Casiguran, Aurora Province, and began to lose power soon after it began to move inland, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
Still, the storm brought strong winds to the island nation, where officials had already evacuated thousands of villagers in areas prone to flooding or landslides.
Koppu carried a punch, toppling several trees and knocking out power and communications to several areas, the Associated Press reported.
According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the storm brought with it strong winds of up to 115 mph and 140 mph gusts before making landfall.
The storm, the 12th to hit the Philippines this year, was expected to lose much of its strength, with its winds slowing to 80 mph in the first 12 hours.
In an address to the nation, President Benigno Aquino III warned that the rain and wind could bring more damage over time, as it lingers over the country and continues to pour rain slowly in some areas.
According to forecasts of the storm, Typhoon Koppu was moving at about 5 mph.
There were no reports of casualties or injuries in the first hours after the storm made landfall.
Thousands of people were evacuated in anticipation of the storm, including towns in coastal areas and river banks, the BBC reported.
There were reports that some people in flood-prone areas refused to leave their homes.
These ppl next to lake Magat at risk of flooding say they won't evacuate despite rising lake level #Koppu #landoPH
Seeing a lot more of submerged huts & shanties as Dupax, NV mounts evacuations in face of rising floodwaters
Alexander Pama, director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, told the BBC some families were being forced to evacuate to "minimize the loss of life."
At least 14 domestic flights had been grounded, and the Coast Guard also imposed a no sailing policy during the storm.
Some forecasters expect the Philippines to experience rain for days as a second typhoon, Typhoon Champi, is located east of Typhoon Koppu.
According to the BBC, some computer models expect the country to see rain until the middle of next week, with the possibility of up to 39 inches to fall.