Philippines: Typhoon Phanfone Wreaks Devastation On Christmas Day
At least 21 people were killed and several went missing after a Typhoon Phanfone ripped through the centre of the Philippines on Christmas Day.
The devastating typhoon made landfall on Tuesday night, bringing heavy rain and storm surges. With gusts of 195km (120 miles) an hour, it tore roofs off houses and toppled electric posts and caused widespread flooding and travel disruption over the busy Christmas period.
Flights were cancelled and around 15,000 people were estimated to be stuck at ports, trying to get home for Christmas, when the storm swept through. Only about 58,000 people were evacuated ahead of Phanfone's arrival. Following the islands of the Eastern Visayas region, southern Luzon and Western Visayas on Wednesday, Phanfone also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations that are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign tourists. Phanfone then slowed down and weakened as it crossed the Philippines' land mass into the South China Sea, the weather bureau said.
Balasan, Iloilo suffers from heavy flooding due to strong rains brought by Typhoon Ursula on Wednesday, December 25. #UrsulaPH | via @AlertsPeapic.twitter.com/DA3qSBzh9p
— MovePH (@MovePH) December 25, 2019
Flights were cancelled and around 15,000 people were estimated to be stuck at ports, trying to get home for Christmas, when the storm swept through. Only about 58,000 people were evacuated ahead of Phanfone's arrival. Following the islands of the Eastern Visayas region, southern Luzon and Western Visayas on Wednesday, Phanfone also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations that are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign tourists. Phanfone then slowed down and weakened as it crossed the Philippines' land mass into the South China Sea, the weather bureau said.
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