Philippines

Typhoon Fengshen leaves trail of destruction

Article published on the 2008-06-21 Latest update 2008-06-21 13:03 TU

Typhoon Fengshen raises a storm in the Philippines
photo: Reuters

Typhoon Fengshen has left death and destruction in its path across the Philippines and heavy rains are set to continue to fall on the islands until Sunday. At least 19 people are reported dead and tens of thousands have been evacuated from their homes. The authorities are warning people in low-lying and mountainous areas against possible landslides, and people in coastal areas to be on the look-out for tidal waves.

Flash floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Fengshen have left more than ten people dead.  Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated. In the central Philippines, local authorities say that some 30 thousand people were stranded on their roof tops.

Officials say there have been casualties in the south, in Maguindanao province where ten people are confirmed drowned. Three others were crushed under their collapsed homes and local news sources report a low intensity tornado triggered by the typhoon killed one person, and wrecked 16 houses in Negros Island.

Roads connecting the southern cities of Cotabato and General Santos were flooded and a concrete bridge collapsed.  Some villages have been cut off. 

Regions in the east of the Philippines have also been hit, such as in Bicol where over 200,000 people sought temporary shelter from the pounding rain storm. More than 600 people were stranded in various seaports there.

Transport is disrupted. Inter-island ferries have been halted and domestic flights to the central Philippines have been cancelled.

Early on Saturday, Fengshen was heading west-northwest carrying winds at 140 kilometres an hour. The Philippines weather bureau forecasts heavy rain in large parts of the central Visayas region and parts of the main island of Luzon until Sunday.