Philippines: At least 16 killed in a typhoon at Christmas

"Panpuna", advancing with winds of 195 mph, tore roofs from houses and knocked down electricity poles. Tens of thousands tried to kill them

Philippines: At least 16 killed in a typhoon at Christmas

At least 16 people died in a typhoon that hit isolated tourist sites and villages in central Philippines over Christmas - authorities in the Catholic state said thousands of its residents had to seek shelter. The "Panpone" storm, with winds of 195 mph, ripped roofs from homes and knocked down electricity poles.

Due to the disconnection of the internet and cell phone lines, the full damage of the storm is still difficult to assess. According to the emergency services, the fatalities were in the villages and towns of Visayas, with the typhoon also hitting Burkay, Coron and other tourist spots on the white beaches. The Calibo airport, which serves Burkay, was also badly damaged.

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The full damage is still unknown. Land flooded in the Philippines (Photo: Reuters)

Typhoon Damages in the Philippines, December 25, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

(Photo: Reuters)

Typhoon Damages in the Philippines, December 25, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)