Manila: At least 28 victims in typhoon Phanfone

12 are missing;  43 thousand people in temporary shelters.  Phanfone made landfall on the evening of December 24 in Eastern Samar province.  After unleashing massive rainfall over the central Philippines, it lost intensity last night in the South China Sea.

Manila (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The death toll from the typhoon Phanfone - which hit the central islands of the Philippine archipelago at Christmas - has risen to 28 dead and 12 missing this morning, while the authorities try to restore electricity  in the region and the inhabitants repair damaged houses. 

The storm stopped many people at sea and in local airports;  it caused landslides, devastated villages with floods, destroyed houses, trees and electric poles cut down.  Entire provinces have suffered blackouts. 

The National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (Ndrrmc) says that at the moment about 43 thousand people have found shelter in temporary shelters set up by the authorities.  In total, almost 185,000 residents were hit by the typhoon, which destroyed 49 homes and partially damaged another 2,000.  The Department of Agriculture has estimated an initial damage of 569 million pesos (11.17 million US dollars) especially for fish farms.

Yesterday, during the Angelus in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis joined "the sorrow that fell on the dear population of the Philippines" because of the storm. "I pray for the numerous victims, for the injured and for their families"  he declared then inviting the faithful present to recite the Hail Mary with him "for this people to whom I love so much".

Phanfone hit the ground on the evening of December 24 in Eastern Samar province.  After unleashing massive rainfall over the central Philippines (Eastern Visayas, Luzon and Western Visayas), the typhoon lost intensity last night when it set sail in the South China Sea, with sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts of 150, the  reports the Philippine Administration for atmospheric, geophysical and astronomical services (Pagasa). 

Provincial officials, army troops, police and volunteers spent Christmas away from home to take care of thousands of displaced people in the gyms and schools of the city turned into emergency shelters.  More than 25,000 people were stranded in ports after the coast guard prohibited ferries and merchant ships from venturing into dangerously unstable waters.  At least 115 domestic flights to and from the region have been canceled.