Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine authorities said on September 16 thedeath toll by super typhoon Mangkhut that swept through Luzon Island, north ofthe Philippines, has climbed to 25.

According to FrancisTolentino, the Phillippine President’s advisor, of the victims, 20 were in landslidesin Cordillera region, four in Nueva Vizcaya province, and one in the Ilocos Surprovince.

Mangkhut, the strongest typhoon so far this year to hit Philippines, made landfallin Cagayan province on Luzon Island, north of the Philippines, at 1:40 am(local time) on September 15, sustaining wind speeds of over 200km per hour andcausing power blackouts in some areas.

Floods occurred in several provinces and many areas in Manila capital city.More than 40 landslides were recorded in Cordillera region.

It also damaged many houses and forced over 60,000 households in the northernregion of the Philippines to be evacuated.

The typhoon is now moving towards southern China, according to the PhilippineAtmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

At 9am of September 16 (Vietnam time), the storm’s eye was about 150km southand southeast of Hong Kong (China). The storm is predicted to movewest-northwest direction with a speed of 30km per hour.-VNA