The storm was accompanied by heavy rains and winds at speeds of up to 150 mph - causing fatalities and devastation as a result of the floods • About 60,000 people were evacuated from their homes
At least 13 people were killed in the Philippines as a result of a typhoon that struck the Central Island state during Christmas, state authorities said Thursday. The typhoon known as Panphone has hit the Philippines with heavy rains and winds of up to 150 mph, leading to floods and great destruction.
Typhoon "Panphone" hit in the Philippines // Photo: Reuters
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More than 58,000 people were evacuated from their homes before the storm, which led to the cancellation of flights in the country and from the country and created a great deal of destruction in infrastructure and property. In addition, the stormy weather at sea has resulted in more than 15,000 people being "abandoned" in the country's sea ports, as a result of the delays of the transit operations in the region.
Damage to the "Panphone" storm that hit the Philippines // Photo: AFP
According to reports from local media, the "Panphone" storm hit the country on Tuesday night, and wandered out of the area Wednesday evening as it headed west toward the South China Sea. Most of the damage is evident today, with the total number of fatalities and casualties still unclear. Victims of the blizzard came from three major counties in the state, including a 13-year-old who was electrocuted as a result of infrastructure damage, a man killed by a branch that was cut off by the intensity of a wind and another killed in a car accident.
Residents evacuate following the typhoon // Photo: IP
The state of the Philippines visits an average of about 20 typhoons each year. State emergency authorities report that the frequency of storms has not changed significantly, although the intensity of the storms has increased in recent years.
