Typhoon Phanfone wreaks havoc in Philippines on Christmas
Typhoon Phanfone entered the central Philippines on December 25, causing heavy rain and affecting the Christmas holiday season of millions in the mainly Catholic nation.
Fishermen carry a boat to higher ground in Baybay, eastern Samar on December 24 after typhoon Phanfone hit the central Philippines (Source: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA)- Typhoon Phanfone entered the central Philippines on December 25, causingheavy rain and affecting the Christmas holiday season of millions in the mainlyCatholic nation.
According to the National Civil Defense Administration of the country, tensof thousands were stranded at shuttered ports or evacuation centres at theheight of the festive season.
More than 10,000 peoplespent the night in improvised shelters in schools, gyms and government buildingsas the typhoon made landfall, a civil defense official said.
Meanwhile, the local coast guard said thatmore than 25,000 people remained stranded at ports on Christmas Day with ferryservices still shut down.
The typhoon destroyed houses, toppled trees and blacked out cities in thePhilippines’ most storm-prone region. Many domestic flights have been canceledor delayed.
No causalities have been confirmed but rescuers said they have yet to reach themore isolated areas, some in neck-deep floods.
Though weaker, Phanfonewas tracking a similar path as Super Typhoon Haiyan — the deadliest cyclone onrecord in the Philippines, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in2013.
The typhoon is forecast to sweep across manyislands in the nation with strong winds and heavy rain before moving toward theEast Sea early December 26.
ThePhilippines gets hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, killingscores of people and wiping out harvests, homes and other infrastructure./.
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Fishermen carry a boat to higher ground in Baybay, eastern Samar on December 24 after typhoon Phanfone hit the central Philippines (Source: AFP) 
