Typhoon Rai kills 375 in the Philippines
The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has risen to 375, with many survivors running short of essential supplies.
The Philippine National Police said on the evening of December 20 that at least 375 people were killed, 56 people were missing and more than 500 people were injured after super typhoon Rai swept through the country.
An official from the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said he did not expect such a high casualty rate. "The numbers prove my assessment wrong," said Casiano Monilla, deputy director for operations at the NDRRMC.
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| An area destroyed by super typhoon Rai in Surigao city, Philippines on December 17. Photo: Reuters. |
Super Typhoon Rai ripped off roofs, uprooted trees, toppled concrete power poles and flooded villages, drawing comparisons with 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines' deadliest storm, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing.
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said the island of the same name was one of the hardest hit, with at least 94 deaths. Officials in the coastal town of Ubay in the province declared a state of emergency, saying many wooden houses had been flattened and scores of fishing boats had sunk.
Survivors are also struggling with a lack of basic supplies. "The situation is dire. People are in dire need of water and food," said Ferry Asuncion, a vendor in the coastal city of Surigao, which was directly affected by the storm.
More than 380,000 residents were evacuated before super typhoon Rai made landfall in the Philippines on December 16.
As of December 19, thousands of military, police, coast guard and fire personnel have been deployed to assist in search and rescue efforts in the worst-hit areas. A Philippine Navy ship carrying relief supplies is set to depart for Bohol today.
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| A damaged area in the Philippines due to Typhoon Rai. Photo: AFP |
Typhoon Rai made landfall on the island of Siargao with maximum winds of 195 km/h (120 mph), before easing to 150 km/h (93 mph) a day later. It was the 15th and one of the deadliest storms to hit the Philippines this year. The storm made nine landfalls in the Philippines, wreaking havoc along its path.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited areas devastated by the typhoon and pledged 2 billion pesos ($56 million) in aid to those affected. He also ordered officials to “use all government resources to ensure that all goods are delivered as soon as possible” to the disaster-hit areas.