At least 28 people lost their lives after a strong typhoon barrelled through the central Philippines. 12 went missing, and thousands were forced to flee their homes, devastating Christmas celebrations in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.
The Typhoon caused several floods and destroyed homes in many provinces, trees have been downed and electric poles knocked out blacking out several towns. The typhoon also caused 25,000 people to be stranded at ports and airports with ferry and flight services being suspended.
Coast guards prevented cargo ships and ferries from entering dangerously choppy waters.
One disaster response officer described the battered coastal town of Batad in Iloilo province as a “ghost town” on Christmas Day.
The Southeast Asian nation is also located in the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions often occur, making the country of more than 100 million people one of the world's most disaster-prone.
According to authorities, the casualty count is expected to increase.
A father, his three children and another relative were among those missing in hard-hit Iloilo province after a swollen river inundated their shanty.
Images on social media showed areas in Capiz and Iloilo provinces completely inundated. The typhoon after barrelling its way through Eastern Samar province on Christmas Eve moved across the archipelago's central region on Christmas. It hit seven coastal towns and island provinces without losing power.
The cyclone is expected to leave the Philippines area on Saturday morning.
