16 killed as Typhoon Phanfone hits the Philippines

Sixteen have been reported killed, and several others are feared to be dead in Typhoon Phafone that struck the central Philippines on Christmas. 

Typhoon Phanfone which is commonly known as Typhoon Ursula in locals, first made landfall on Eastern Samar province on Tuesday, causing heavy rainfall and wind surges.

This Typhoon hit as the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane resulting in wind speeds of 150 kilometres and gusts of 195 kilometres per hour. Phanfone stretched to sweep west across the islands of the Eastern Visayas region plunging electricity towers and trees, shredding off roofs, destroying homes and causing extensive travel disturbance over the busy Christmas period.

The region has Christianity as the dominating religion, as when the Typhoon struck people were preparing for the festival with their families.

Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 13 people had died in the Western Visayas region, while the Office of Civil Defense said three had died in Eastern Visayas. 

According to the government’s Philippine Information Agency (PIA), A 70-year-old Carlos Yu Beltran, asphyxiated when his house was tidied away in a storm surge in Balangkayan town on Samar. 

 Philippine national disaster management agency stated that around 2,351 people are affected by the Typhoon, and 1,654 people are seeking refuge in evacuation centres.