December 26, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

Typhoon Phanfone, known locally as Ursula, struck the Philippines on December 24. It was the 21st tropical storm to hit the Philippines in 2019, according to the weather bureau, it first disrupted with landfall on Eastern Samar province on December 24 bringing heavy rainfalls and severe windstorms. Then Phanfone continued to sweep westward across the Visayas islands and southern Luzon on December 25. It had toppled electricity poles and trees, blown off roofs. It had canceled dozens of airline flights, ferries and prompted the disruption of thousands of travelers over the busy Christmas holidays.
 

Typhoon Phanfone was recorded in sustained wind speeds of 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour and gusts as strong as 195 kilometers (121 miles) per hour. It was tracking a similar path as Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 6,300 people.

 
The death toll reported at least 16 victims by December 26. There were 5 fishermen from Samar Island were reported missing and 12 people were also missing in the Iloilo province. Thousands were left stranded on their way home for celebrating the Christmas holidays. As power and communication services in several areas remained dissolved, the full extent of Typhoon Phanfone’s damage would need weeks to restore.

Photo:Webshot.