This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50913965
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Typhoon Phanfone: Philippines counts cost of deadly storm | Typhoon Phanfone: Philippines counts cost of deadly storm |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Typhoon Phanfone has killed at least 16 people in the Philippines, leaving a trail of devastation through the centre of the country. | |
Gusts of up to 190km/h (118mph) struck, destroying homes and power lines, and flooding is severe in some provinces. | |
Many people are missing. Thousands were left stranded as they tried to make their way home for Christmas. | Many people are missing. Thousands were left stranded as they tried to make their way home for Christmas. |
Access to some islands off the coast has been hampered by the suspension of shipping by the coastguard. | |
Phanfone struck close to regions hit by Typhoon Haiyan - the most powerful storm ever to make landfall - in 2013. | Phanfone struck close to regions hit by Typhoon Haiyan - the most powerful storm ever to make landfall - in 2013. |
More than 6,000 people were killed in November that year, making it the Philippines' deadliest typhoon. | More than 6,000 people were killed in November that year, making it the Philippines' deadliest typhoon. |
Expressing his sympathy to a country overwhelming Roman Catholic, Pope Francis said "I join in the pain that affected the dear people of the Philippines because of the Typhoon Phanfone. I pray for the numerous victims, for the injured and for their families." | |
How great is the damage? | |
Typhoon Phanfone made landfall on Tuesday night but continued to pass over the many islands of the central Philippines throughout Christmas Day. | |
More than 58,000 people had been evacuated in advance and about 15,000 others were stranded at ports when ferry services were suspended. | |
The extent of the damage began to emerge only on Thursday. | The extent of the damage began to emerge only on Thursday. |
Most deaths occurred in Iloilo and Capiz provinces. | Most deaths occurred in Iloilo and Capiz provinces. |
One family was killed when they were swept away by a flash flood as they attempted to get to higher ground, the Philippine ABS-CBN network reports. At least 12 people reportedly went missing in Iloilo province alone. | |
Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, told the BBC: "A lot of people have lost their homes and they need food." | Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, told the BBC: "A lot of people have lost their homes and they need food." |
Water and power services were cut in many areas, he added, and restoring them could take weeks. | |
The popular tourist island of Boracay appears to have suffered damage, although the extent is unclear. | The popular tourist island of Boracay appears to have suffered damage, although the extent is unclear. |
The airport at Kalibo, which services Boracay, was badly damaged, Korean tourist Jung Byung-joon told AFP news agency. | |
"Roads remain blocked, but some efforts have been made to clear away the damage," he said. "It's pretty bad." | "Roads remain blocked, but some efforts have been made to clear away the damage," he said. "It's pretty bad." |
In Tacloban, a low-lying city of more than 220,000 people, a large fire broke out as the winds rose but the city escaped the worst of the damage. | |
Tacloban suffered enormous damage during Haiyan and its storm surge. | |
On Thursday Phanfone headed out towards the South China Sea. | On Thursday Phanfone headed out towards the South China Sea. |