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Agence France-Presse

The number of people killed by a powerful storm that pommelled the central Philippines over Christmas has risen to 50, authorities said Tuesday, making it the nation’s deadliest storm of 2019.
Typhoon Phanfone’s destructive winds and heavy rains brought down flimsy homes and destroyed commercial buildings mainly in the central island of Visayas, affecting more than two million people.
At least 80,000 remain in emergency shelters and might have to stay until the New Year, given the scale of destruction.
“We’re sad that some of our countrymen are still in evacuation centres, but we assure them they will continue to receive support until they get back on their feet,” national disaster agency spokesman Mark Timbal said.


Five people are still missing after the storm, which also left 143 injured.
The death toll – up from 41 on Sunday – included three sailors who died after their vessel capsized, a policeman electrocuted by a toppled post, and a man struck by a falling tree.
A recent agency report showed over 1.6 million people were affected by the typhoon, which damaged over 260,000 houses and forced almost a hundred thousand people to flee to emergency shelters.
Many of the affected residents in the predominantly Catholic nation celebrated Christmas in evacuation centres, where they may have to stay until the New Year given the scale of destruction.
Thousands still stuck in shelters as Typhoon Phanfone death toll rises to 41
The government estimated that the storm has caused damage to agriculture and infrastructure worth US$21 million.
Power lines and internet connections remain down in some areas after Phanfone’s powerful wind gusts of up to 200 kilometres (124 miles) per hour toppled electric posts and trees.
Typhoon Phanfone, locally called Ursula, was the 21st cyclone this year to hit the storm-prone Philippines.
Many of the storms wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure, keeping millions of people in perpetual poverty.


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The Philippines

Typhoon Phanfone death toll in Philippines hits 50 and is expected to rise in New Year

A boat damaged by Typhoon Phanfone, on Bulabog beach on the Philippine island of Boracay. Photo: Courtesy of Dave Kendall / AFP

A house damaged during Typhoon Phanfone in Tacloban, Leyte province. Photo: AFP

Typhoon Phanfone death toll in Philippines rises to 41, thousands still stuck in shelters

People walk past a house that was damaged during Typhoon Phanfone in Tacloban, Leyte province in the central Philippines. The number of deaths has risen to 41, with 12 unaccounted for. Photo: AFP

A house destroyed at the height of Typhoon Phanfone is seen in Balasan town in Iloilo province on December 26, 2019. - Typhoon Phanfone swept across remote villages and popular tourist areas of the central Philippines on Christmas day claimed at least 16 lives, authorities said on on December 26. (Photo by STR / AFP)

At least 28 dead after Typhoon Phanfone lashes central Philippines on Christmas Day

Villagers walk around a cargo ship washed ashore on Christmas Day in the typhoon-hit city of Ormoc, Leyte province in the central Philippines. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa08089779 Villagers clear debris in the typhoon-hit city of Ormoc, Philippines, 25 December 2019. Typhoon Phanfone, (locally known as Ursula), made landfall in the Philippines with sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and caused cancellation at airports, seaports, and bus stations, affecting thousands of travelers on Christmas Eve. Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year in the country, an archipelago made up of more than 7,000 islands with a population that is mostly Catholic. EPA-EFE/ROBERT DEJON

A motorist commutes past a blown down galvanised roof from a house damaged during the height of Typhoon Phanfone in Tacloban, Leyte province in the central Philippines on December 25, 2019. - Typhoon Phanfone pummelled the central Philippines on Christmas Day, bringing a wet and miserable holiday season to millions in the mainly Catholic nation. (Photo by Bobbie ALOTA / AFP)

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The nation’s deadliest storm of 2019 has caused US$21 million worth of damage
At least 80,000 remain in emergency shelters and might have to stay until the New Year, given the scale of destruction



At least 80,000 remain in emergency shelters and might have to stay until the New Year, given the scale of destruction.


Extreme weather

Natural disasters

Weather

Christmas