A strong typhoon that barreled through the central Philippines left at least 28 dead and 12 missing, and forced thousands to flee their homes, devastating Christmas celebrations in the predominantly Roman Catholic country, the New Zealand Herald reports.
Typhoon Phanfone stranded many people in sea and airports at the peak of holiday travel, set off landslides, flooded low-lying villages, destroyed houses, downed trees and electrical poles and knocked out power in entire provinces. One disaster response officer described the battered coastal town of Batad in Iloilo province as a “ghost town” on Christmas Day.
epa08090638 A handout photo made available by the Office of Civil Defense Region VI (OCD-VI) shows an aerial shot during a Civil Defense officials’ inspection in the typhoon-hit province of Capiz, Philippines, 26 December 2019. According to media reports, Typhoon Phanfone, locally known as Ursula, lashed the central Philippines on Christmas Day killing at least 16 people and causing damage to homes and rice fields. EPA-EFE/OCD-VI HANDOUT BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
epa08090596 A villager dries her belongings in the sun in the typhoon-hit town of Balasan, Ilo-Ilo province, Philippines, 26 December 2019. According to media reports, Typhoon Phanfone, locally known as Ursula, lashed the central Philippines on Christmas Day killing at least 16 people and causing damage to homes and rice fields. EPA-EFE/LEO SOLINAP
epa08090597 A villager stand next to a damaged home in the typhoon-hit town of Balasan, Ilo-Ilo province, Philippines, 26 December 2019. According to media reports, Typhoon Phanfone, locally known as Ursula, lashed the central Philippines on Christmas Day killing at least 16 people and causing damage to homes and rice fields. EPA-EFE/LEO SOLINAP
epa08090595 Vehicles maneuver next to a toppled electric post in the typhoon-hit town of Balasan, Ilo-Ilo province, Philippines, 26 December 2019. According to media reports, Typhoon Phanfone, locally known as Ursula, lashed the central Philippines on Christmas Day killing at least 16 people and causing damage to homes and rice fields. EPA-EFE/LEO SOLINAP
CNN reports that Typhoon Phanfone, known locally as Typhoon Ursula, first made landfall on Eastern Samar province on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and storm surges. It hit as the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane, packing sustained wind speeds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour, with gusts of 195 kilometers (121 miles) per hour.
“You can’t see anybody because there was a total blackout, you can’t hear anything. The town looked like a ghost town,” Cindy Ferrer of the regional Office of the Civil Defense said by phone.
