The Korea Times

3 killed as powerful typhoon hits Philippine­s

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MANILA (Reuters) — A typhoon struck the Philippine­s on Tuesday, killing at least three people, disrupting air travel and forcing government offices and schools to shut.

Authoritie­s evacuated some 225,000 people ahead of the arrival overnight of Typhoon Kammuri, known locally as Tisoy. Officials said their precaution­s prevented greater loss of life, while warnings of floods, storm surges and landslides were issued in the wake of the country’s 20th typhoon of the year.

“We’ve seen great improvemen­t in local government management of preparatio­ns for disasters,” disaster agency spokesman Mark Timbal told news channel ANC.

Winds gusting up to 200 kph (124 mph) damaged homes and structures and tore down trees and signage as it barreled through central islands south of the capital, as it moved across the archipelag­o towards the South China Sea.

A man died after being electrocut­ed while attempting to fix his roof in Camarines Sur province, according to a civil defense official. Two people who ignored a mandatory evacuation were killed in Oriental Mindoro, one hit by a falling tree and the other by a sheet of metal roofing material.

“It could have been more if we did not have pre-emptive evacuation,” Humerlito Dolor, governor of Oriental Mindoro province, told DZMM radio.

Some 499 flights were postponed and 100,000 people impacted by a precaution­ary closure of Manila’s main airport for 12 hours until 11:00 p.m. Tuesday (1500 GMT). Flights continued in unaffected areas of the country.

Pictures posted on social media showed waves crashing against bulwarks, panels flying off roofs, and fallen trees.

Authoritie­s warned of storm surges of up to three meters and possible floods and landslides ahead after heavy winds and rain. Commercial sea travel was halted.

Government offices and schools in Manila were closed and utilities firms warned of power outages.

Worst hit was the airport in Legazpi City, which suffered structural damage, with television showing cables, lighting and panels hanging from the ceiling over the departure areas.

 ?? EPA-Yonhap ?? A handout photo made available by Greenpeace-Philippine­s shows a motorist riding under an uprooted tree in the aftermath of Typhoon Kammuri in Legazpi city, Albay Province, Philippine­s, Tuesday.
EPA-Yonhap A handout photo made available by Greenpeace-Philippine­s shows a motorist riding under an uprooted tree in the aftermath of Typhoon Kammuri in Legazpi city, Albay Province, Philippine­s, Tuesday.

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