This archive report was first published on 18 December 2021.
Typhoon Rai Brings Destruction to the Philippines ¶
Published on December 18, 2021
At least 23 people have been killed in the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, with widespread destruction reported on islands that bore the brunt of the storm.
According to officials, more than 300,000 people fled their homes and beachfront resorts as Typhoon Rai ravaged the southern and central regions of the archipelago, knocking out communications and electricity in many areas.
The powerful storm, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour (120 miles per hour), slammed into the popular tourist island of Siargao on Thursday, causing widespread damage and destruction.
Residents on the island of Dinagat reported that their homes, boats, and fields were destroyed, with Governor Arlene Bag-ao writing on Facebook that the island had been 'levelled to the ground'.
Mark Timbal, spokesman for the national disaster agency, said that there had been severe damage on Siargao island and the northern tip of the southern island of Mindanao, with around 100,000 residents on Siargao and a large number of tourists drawn to its beaches and big waves.
Philippine Coast Guard shared photos on social media showing widespread destruction around Surigao City on Mindanao, with aerial footage showing swathes of rice fields under water.
At least three people were killed and dozens injured in the storm, according to Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas.
The Philippines, ranked as one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change, is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes, and infrastructure in already impoverished areas.
