MANILA: Typhoon Phanfone smashed into the central Philippines on Tuesday (Dec 24), ruining Christmas plans as thousands were left stranded at ports or told to leave their homes.
The tropical storm was upgraded to a typhoon shortly before it made landfall on Christmas Eve in the mainly Catholic nation, with no immediate reports of casualties.
Officials said the region's coastal areas as well as those prone to flooding and landslides were evacuated on Tuesday, but could not give the exact number of people affected. All boats on the storm's projected path through the central islands were ordered to stay in port and many commercial flights were cancelled, stranding thousands of people who were trooping to their hometowns.
"We are aiming for zero casualties," said Cabrigas, speaking by phone from the central city of Tacloban, the centre of Haiyan's devastation.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
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