Typhoon Mangkhut kills 25 in Philippines, moves to China
News & Trends •
the dead included many killed in landslides a girl who drowned and a security guard crushed by a falling wall. in addition to the 10 killed in the philippines a woman was swept out to sea in taiwan1 typhoon mangkhut killed at least 25 people in the philippines as it smashed homes and left behind torrents of floodwater and is now on course to plough into chinas coast1 because communications and electricity were knocked out across much of the region where about five million people were in the typhoons direct path officials are still assessing the human and material cost1 in the northern town of baggao the storm collapsed houses tore off roofs and downed power lines. some roads were cut off by landslides and many remained submerged1 farms across luzon which produces a large portion of the nations rice and corn were sitting under muddy floodwaters their crops ruined just a month before harvest1 were already poor and then this storm happened to us. we have lost hope 40-year-old mary anne baril whose corn and rice crops were spoiled in the storm told afp1 we have no other means to survive she said through tears1 more than 105000 people fled their homes in the largely rural region1 an average of 20 typhoons and storms lash the philippines each year killing hundreds of people and leaving millions in near-perpetual poverty1 the massive storm considered this years strongest left key agricultural areas on luzon island underwater as its fierce winds tore trees from the ground and rains unleashed dozens of landslides1 the countrys deadliest storm on record is super typhoon haiyan which left more than 7350 people dead or missing across the central philippines in november 20131 mangkhut has weakened since blasting into the philippine coast on saturday but was packing sustained winds of 175 kilometres per hour 110 miles per hour as it hurtled toward chinas heavily populated southern coast1 rain and strong winds lashed hong kong sunday morning as the storm approached1 the citys observatory warned that mangkhut would pass 100 kilometres south of hong kong at around midday 0400 gmt local time as it raised the storm alert to its highest level1 water levels in the famous victoria harbour and fishing villages could surge by up to four metres authorities said and hundreds of residents have been evacuated to storm shelters as the observatory forecast severe flooding for low-lying areas1 shop windows were taped up and the normally traffic-clogged streets were deserted as the storm drew nearer1 the government has warned people to stay indoors but some were strolling in the park or along the waterfront sunday morning1 i went running this morning. i love fresh air and theres no one on the streets no cars. on normal days we cant see this said hao chen 28 who lives in the neighbourhood of tin hau on hong kong island1 some residents reported their buildings were swaying in the wind and parks were already strewn with broken branches by the early morning1