Typhoon Goni kills seven, triggers landslides in Philippines
At least seven people have reportedly lost their lives after a powerful typhoon, called Goni, hit the Philippines, triggering landslides and floods in the South Asian country.
The country’s national disaster council said in a statement on Saturday that six of the victims died after they were buried by mud and rocks in the southern provinces of Bengut and Mountain.
Another person was also killed when he was hit by a falling tree in the nearby province of Ilocos Norte, according to the report.
The report further said at least two people were missing and four others injured in the flood-stricken areas of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, 1,200 people were evacuated by Saturday as Typhoon Goni continues to batter country.
On Saturday morning, Goni was 165 kilometers northeast of the northern province of Cagayan. The typhoon is packing winds of up to 195 kilometers per hour, according to the state weather bureau.
In the northern province of Abra, two straight days of rainfall have caused a major river to overflow, Governor Eustaquio Bersamin told the local DZMM radio station.
“We’ve been hit hard by rains. The Abra River has turned into an ocean,” said the official, adding, “The rains were much stronger than we expected.”
At least six families were trapped in riverbank villages and efforts are underway to rescue them, Bersamin added.
The natural disaster has also paralyzed several flights and ferry trips in the Philippines.
Typhoon Goni is the ninth storm to hit the Philippines so far this year. It is now on its way heading to Taiwan, the weather bureau of the Philippines said.
Taiwan has also taken precautions against heavy rains expected this weekend. Troops are also on standby for disaster relief operations in the country, while authorities have evacuated some 1,700 tourists from outlying Green and Orchid islands.
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