Typhoon Ray in the Philippines claims over 208 lives so far
December 20, 2021, 8:21 am

Typhoon Ray in the Philippines claims over 208 lives so far

Representative image-Typhoon/Pixabay

The BBC reported, Philippines police are quoted as saying by local media that at least 208 people are now known to have died after a powerful storm struck the country on Thursday.

Super Typhoon Rai - with winds of about 195km/h (120mph) - sent some 300,000 people running for safety when it hit the country's south-eastern islands.

At least 239 people were injured and 52 others have been reported missing by local police.

The BBC said that rescue teams have described scenes of "complete carnage".

It mentioned, there are fears widespread landslides and flooding may have claimed more lives.

The chair of the Philippines Red Cross, Richard Gordon, told the BBC: "Many areas have no power, no communications, very little water."

"There are some areas that look like it has been bombed worse than World War Two."

According to the BBC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal seeking 20 million Swiss francs (£16m; $22m) to fund long-term relief efforts.

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Mr Gordon said: "Red Cross emergency teams are reporting complete carnage in the coastal areas," adding that "Homes, hospitals, school and community buildings have been ripped to shreds."

The BBC said that thousands of military, coast guard and fire personnel have been deployed in the country's worst-affected areas to assist with search and rescue efforts.

It added that on average about 20 storms and typhoons strike the Philippines each year.

In 2013, more that 6,000 people lost their lives, as Typhoon Haiyan-the country's deadliest storm on record, hit the Philippines.

It should be noted that Super Typhoon Rai is the most powerful to hit the Philippines in 2021, and comes late in the region's typhoon season - with most cyclones developing between July and October.

Scientists have long warned that rising global temperatures, induced by man-made climate change, are causing typhoons to become more powerful and strengthen more rapidly.

Source: BBC

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