JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — One of ‘most significant’ airlifts in Alaska history is underway to evacuate hundreds from villages on the state’s southwest coast that were inundated by the remnants of Typhoon Halong last weekend, officials said Wednesday.

The storm slammed into coastal villages, bringing a record storm surge that swept away homes — some with people still inside — and left 1,500 residents in makeshift shelters.

Authorities determined Wednesday that two villages required full-scale evacuation, incident commander Mark Roberts said in a statement.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — One of the biggest emergency responses in Alaska in decades was underway Wednesday after the remnants of Typhoon Halong slammed into coastal village

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