MANILA, Philippines - A strong typhoon that barrelled through the central Philippines left at least 20 people dead and forced thousands to flee their homes, devastating Christmas celebrations in the predominantly Catholic country. One disaster response officer described the battered coastal town of Batad in Iloilo province as a “ghost town” on Christmas Day. The town looked like a ghost town,” Cindy Ferrer of the regional Office of the Civil Defence said by phone. The typhoon slammed into Eastern Samar province on Christmas Eve and then barrelled across the archipelago’s central region on Christmas, slamming into seven coastal towns and island provinces without losing power, government forecasters said. About 20 typhoons and storms batter the Philippines each year.

Source: thestar December 26, 2019 10:42 UTC