Xmas typhoon wreaks havoc

PHILIPPINES: MANY DEAD AS STORM TEARS ROOFS OFF HOUSES, TOPPLES ELECTRIC POSTS

Phanfone also hit Boracay, Coron and other popular holiday destinations.

Atyphoon that swept across remote villages and popular tourist areas of the central Philippines on Christmas Day claimed at least 16 lives, authorities said yesterday.

Typhoon Phanfone, with gusts reaching 200km/h, tore roofs off houses and toppled electric posts as it ripped through the central Philippines on Wednesday.

Videos from the typhoon’s path showed fallen trees and strong winds pummelling flimsy houses. Local disaster officials cut felled trees to clear blocked roads.

At least 16 people were killed in villages and towns in the Visayas, the central third of the

Philippines, according to disaster agency officials.

Phanfone also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations that are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign tourists.

Mobile phone and internet access on Boracay was cut during the storm and the networks remained down yesterday, making assessment of the damage there difficult.

“Still, communication lines are down. Electricity is still down,” said Jonathan Pablito, police chief of Malay town in Alkan province, which is on an island neighbouring Boracay.

Pablito said ferry services between Boracay and Aklan – the main way to travel to and from the holiday island – were still not operating yesterday, even though the storm had passed.

“We have no news from the coast guard if ships were allowed to sail.

“Since the 24th, all those going to the island and coming from the

There are a lot of frustrated people at the airport

island weren’t able to cross.”

The airport at Kalibo town in Aklan, which services Boracay, was badly damaged, according to a Korean tourist who was stranded there.

“Roads remain blocked, but some efforts have been made to clear away the damage. It’s pretty bad,” Jung Byung-joon said via

Instagram messenger.

“There are a lot of frustrated people at the airport as flights have been cancelled.”

– AFP

Picture: AFP AFTERMATH. This image, received courtesy of Jung Byung-joon, yesterday shows damage caused by Typhoon Phanfone outside Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo, the capital of Aklan province.