Last Updated on December 26, 2019, 6:59 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Eleven people were killed, and six to seven are reported to be missing on Thursday as Typhoon Phanfone took over the central Philippine islands on Christmas Day by surprise, it is also reported that it’s heading to the South China Sea.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer news website reported that “two people died in the province of Leyte, while eight were killed in the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz.” And “One person died in the province of Biliran”.
“Six others were missing in Iloilo, although ABS-CBN television channel reported that the number could be as high as 12”.
The govt ensured the evacuation of thousands after the deadly typhoon. There were images on the social media showing the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo still underwater.
As of Thursday morning, the Philippine weather agency, PAGASA, said that “Phanfone was reported 155km (96 miles) west of the province of Palawan, with maximum winds of up to 130km/h (80 mph) and gustiness of up to 160km/h (99 mph)”.
The typhoon destroyed the holiday plans of the mainly Catholic nation as many flights were cancelled. Thousands were also stranded at shuttered ports, while dozens of flights were cancelled. Phanfone affected the Boracay, Coron and other white-sand beaches which are popular with the foreigners.
“The airport at Kalibo, which services Boracay, was badly damaged” according to a Korean “.
The Country witnessed the deadliest cyclone in 2013, which took the life of at least 6000 people. The Philippines faces the Pacific cyclone belt.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
