Strong typhoon leaves 19 dead in north Philippines

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines

A powerful typhoon has left at least 19 people dead after sweeping through the northern Philippines, according to local media.

The latest deaths from Typhoon Ineng – locally named Goni -- were recorded in Zambales province, where the home of a family was swept away when a river overflowed, killing two young siblings and leaving one missing early Monday.

The state-run Philippine News Agency reported that the father of the family had managed to grab hold of two other children and his partner – all of whom sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The two latest fatalities were recorded after the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the death toll stood at 17, with 14 people missing as of Monday.

The figures accounted for the highland provinces of Mountain, Abra, Benguet, La Union and Ilocos Norte.

The news agency that around 16,500 families – more than 72,300 people – had been affected in some northern regions, with 2,700 of them being accommodated at evacuation centers.

A total of 50 roads, seven bridges and two spillways were left inaccessible, while damage to property was estimated at 121,480,000 Philippine pesos (around $2,596,400) in infrastructure and 44,200,856 pesos ($944,800) in agriculture.

Around four cities and 81 municipalities were experiencing power interruptions as of press time.

After leaving the Philippines’ area of responsibility, the typhoon hit the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa on Monday afternoon, where it is forecast to bring  winds of up to 162 kilometers (101 miles) per hour and rainfall of over 50 millimeters (2 inches) per hour.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the typhoon is expected to head north toward Kyushu island, with winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour and downpour of 180 millimeters until 6 a.m. Tuesday (2100GMT Monday).

The Philippines suffers around 20 typhoons and storms each year, many of them deadly.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded -- struck the country’s central islands, leaving more than 8,000 people dead, missing and injured.