Over 20 people killed by typhoon in Philippines

PHILIPPINES, Dec. 18 (YPA) – More than 20 people were killed on Saturday in the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, according to a new toll published by the authorities.

The disaster caused “significant damage” in the hardest-hit areas in the center and south of the archipelago.

According to Agence France-Presse, more than 300,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and tourist resorts since Thursday due to Hurricane Ray, which led Outages in electricity and telecommunications in many areas after destroying telecommunication towers, bringing down electricity poles, uprooting trees and demolishing homes.

Hurricane Ray hit the famous tourist island of Siargao on Thursday, accompanied by wind, which its speed reached 195 kilometers per hour. The speed of these winds decreased to 150 kilometers per hour on Friday as the hurricane advanced in the archipelago, causing severe damage, according to the Philippine Meteorological Authority.

YPA