Destroyed Christmas decorations in Leyte on Wednesday. Photo: Paul Cinco via ReutersChristmas turned to chaos for many holiday observers in the central Philippines as a typhoon with strong winds and heavy rains destroyed homes, cut off power and stranded travellers. More than 4000 people have been evacuated in the Eastern Visayas region of the central Philippines, according to disaster officials, although no deaths have been reported. "The aftermath of course made us sad because it's Christmas Day, but it doesn't feel like Christmas, but we're blessed to be safe...no major devastation or casualties reported," he said. More than 6000 people died and 200,000 homes destroyed when Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest-ever storm to make landfall in the Philippines, hit the central islands of Leyte and Samar six years ago.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 25, 2019 21:11 UTC