Supertyphoon Goni Blasts Philippines, Kills at Least 10 and 3 Missing

Typhoon Goni, the world's strongest typhoon this year hits the south of the Philippines' main island of Luzon on Sunday leaving at least ten dead, three missing, and damaged properties and crops. 

Affected families number to 372,653 or 2,068,085 individuals. One is injured, while assessment of damage is ongoing, NDRRMC spokesman Ricardo Jalad said.

Supertyphoon Goni 

Supertyphoon Goni weakened when it made a third landfall in the Quezon Province, and Batangas before it finally headed towards the South China Sea. According to the weather bureau, the typhoon weakened with 78 miles per hour sustained winds and with gusts of 170 kph. 

The typhoon first took landfall in the eastern island province of Catanduanes early Sunday. It had sustained winds of 140 miles per hour and gusts of 174 miles per hour. 

(Photo: Reuters Connect )
A man looks at his house buried under the pile of rubble and sand following flash floods brought by Typhoon 'Goni' in Barangay Busay, Daraga town, Albay province, Philippines, November 1, 2020. REUTERS/Nino N. Luces

READ: Typhoon Goni Now a Supertyphoon, Makes a Landfall in the Philippines; Signal No. 4 Raised in Metro Manila

Damage in Bicol Region 

There are ten recorded fatalities, and three people reported missing in the Bicol region. Nine people died in the province of Albay.

In one community in Albay, the typhoon triggered volcanic mudflows that buried around 150 houses. 

A five-year-old boy was among the missing persons. Floodwaters swept the boy away. 

In the municipality of Guinobotan, around 300 houses were buried under armored rocks from Mayon Volcano, probably burying several people alive. 

An estimated 345,000 people are now in evacuation centers, while around 50,000 are staying with relatives. 

Some coastal towns were hit by storm surges, while several villages in Bicol were flooded. Dikes overflowed and were destroyed. 

Catanduanes Island, where the typhoon first made landfall is still cut from communication as the storm toppled down cell towers. A Philippine Coast Guard aircraft is being deployed in the island. 

Jalad said that relief carrying food and supplies will be deployed to Catanduanes and Legaspi City on Monday and Tuesday. 

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Typhoon Goni unleashes in Southern Luzon

The Philippine's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Mark Timbal said on Sunday that an estimated 19 million people might have been affected by Goni's path.

In Batangas, the Philippine Red Cross posted on its Twitter account that they were able to rescue 110 ten individuals from harm. The typhoon caused the Magnus River to overflow, resulting in floods. 

In Quezon province, trees and power lines were toppled down, leaving ten towns with no electricity. 

Dozens of flights were canceled as Ninoy Aquino International Airport was ordered shut for one day. 

Another typhoon entered PAR

Supertyphoon Goni is expected to weaken further over the South China Sea in the coming days, as the storm will head to Vietnam and potentially bringing heavy rainfall and floods.

Goni is the 18th tropical cyclone to hit the country this year. The country faces an average of 20 typhoons per year. 

Meanwhile, another typhoon, tropical storm Atsani entered the country on Sunday and could gain strength in the coming days. 

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