A strong typhoon that barreled through the central Philippines left at least 20 people dead and forced thousands to flee their homes, devastating Christmas celebrations in the predominantly Catholic country.
Typhoon Phanfone stranded many people in sea and airports at the peak of holiday travel, set off landslides, engulfed low-lying villages with floods, destroyed houses, downed trees and electrical posts and knocked out power in entire provinces. One disaster response officer described the battered coastal town of Batad in Iloilo province as a “ghost town” on Christmas Day.
The storm weakened slightly on Thursday as it blew into the South China Sea with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour and gusts of 93 mph after lashing island after island with fierce winds and pounding rain on Christmas Day, the weather agency said.Most of the 20 deaths reported by officials were due to drowning, falling trees and accidental electrocution.
The typhoon slammed into Eastern Samar province on Christmas Eve and then barreled across the archipelago’s central region on Christmas, slamming into seven coastal towns and island provinces without losing power, government forecasters said.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
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