At least 12 dead in Philippines as China braces for typhoon

TYPHOON Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes yesterday, leaving at least 12 people dead and six missing, as southern China braced for the storm.

The typhoon slammed ashore before dawn in Cagayan province on the north- eastern tip of Luzon island, a region of flood-prone rice plains and mountain provinces with a history of landslides.

The onslaught caused nearly 150 flights to be cancelled and halted sea travel. At least three people died and six others were missing in the mountain city of Baguio after ferocious winds and rain destroyed several houses and set off landslides, which also blocked roads. Authorities were verifying the drownings of three people, including two children. They also were checking to see what happened to about 70 men who reportedly returned to their coastal village in Cagayan to check on their homes.

Mangkhut’s winds weakened to 105mph with gusts of up to 161mph after it sliced north-westward across Luzon then blew out to the South China Sea, aiming

Hong Kong.

Nuclear power plants in southern China were also in “combat readiness”. Yangjiang power station, which is 19 miles from where the storm is predicted to strike, had all units secured, while Taishan power plant, which is 217 miles from Hong Kong, had emergency personnel in place. at southern China and

Soldiers assist a family by carrying their sick child to a waiting government vehicle after their ambulance failed to make it through a blocked road in Baggao, Cagayan province