Philippines: more than 20 dead after typhoon Rai

Europe 1 with AFP 07:13, December 18, 2021

More than 20 people have been killed by the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, authorities said on Saturday, who reported "alarming" destruction on the islands that have suffered the worst of the storm. More than 300,000 people have had to flee their homes since Thursday due to the typhoon that devastated the south and center of the country, according to the National Agency for Natural Disasters of the Philippines.

Rai was described as a "super-typhoon" when it made landfall Thursday, on the tourist island of Siargao, accompanied by winds of 195km / h.

On Friday, the wind speed had dropped to 155 km / h, according to the Philippine Meteorological Agency.

It crossed the northern part of Palawan Island, a popular tourist destination, at the end of the afternoon on Friday, before heading towards the South China Sea, heading for Vietnam.

"One of the most powerful storms"

"This is one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines in December in the past decade," said Alberto Bocanegra, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross Societies. Red Crescent in the Philippines.

"The information we receive and the images we receive are very alarming."

More than 18,000 military, police, coast guard and firefighters will join search and rescue efforts in the worst-hit areas, said Mark Timbal, spokesperson for the national disaster agency.

"There has been significant damage" in Surigao and Siargao, the areas that suffered the most from the typhoon, Timbal said.

At least three people have been killed and dozens more injured in Surigao, city mayor Ernesto Matugas told ABS-CBN television station, bringing the total death toll to 21. Alberto Bocanegra warned that the power cuts would affect the water supply, raising concerns about sanitary conditions.