The death toll from super typhoon Rai, in the Philippines, rose to at least 208 this Monday (20), according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). The storm swept the archipelago late last week, causing widespread flooding and damage.
About 52 people are still missing and at least 239 have suffered “considerable injuries”, added the PNP.
Rai, the 15th recorded typhoon in the Philippines this year, hit the mainland last Thursday (16) on Siargao Island, a popular surfing and tourist destination on the central east coast. Initially, there were winds of up to 260 kilometers per hour – the equivalent of a Category 5 storm.
The damage caused by Typhoon Rai led to widespread power and communication outages, hampering rescue operations, which continued over the weekend with workers advancing through the floodwaters—up to their thighs—to rescue citizens. About 332,000 people have been driven from their homes, according to an NDRRMC spokesperson.
Many buildings were destroyed in several severely affected areas. Residents were seen struggling through mud and rubble to rescue what they could from their damaged homes.
The estimated cost of the damage is $4.2 million, according to the state-run PNA news agency.
Typhoon Rai has decreased in intensity and is now a typhoon with maximum winds of 165 kilometers per hour, the equivalent of a Category 2 storm.
The storm is now off the coast of Vietnam in the South China Sea and is expected to weaken further as it approaches Hainan, China, in the next few hours.
This content was originally created in English.
original version
Reference: CNN Brasil
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