Death Toll Rises To 24 After Typhoon Saola Batters Philippines

Death toll rises to 24 after Typhoon Saola batters Philippines < br />

2012-08-02 08:13:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- Torrential rains and strong winds from Typhoon Saola have killed at least 23 people in the Philippines this week, emergency officials said on Wednesday. The storm will skirt the northeastern tip of Taiwan on Thursday before making landfall in China.

Benito Ramos, the Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the effects of Saola have killed at least 23 people and injured 21 others since late Saturday. More than 125 people have also been rescued by emergency services, but severe weather was still battering parts of the Philippines on Wednesday.

Ramos said two of the victims died in landslides, five people drowned, four were killed by falling coconut trees, one body was found in the sea, one drowned after a boat capsized, two people were electrocuted, four people were hit by falling trees, one drowned while swimming, and two died when strong water current and winds submerged a small boat. One passenger was also killed when a boat ran aground.

The storm destroyed at least 600 houses in the Philippines and damaged 2,185 others, leaving thousands of people homeless. NDRRMC reported 179,990 people have sought help at evacuation centers, although the vast majority were able to seek shelter at relatives or friends.

Saola, which is also known as Gener and has registered maximum sustained winds of up to 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour near the center, has continued to move towards the north-northwest at around 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) per hour. The typhoon is forecast to approach Taiwan on Thursday before making landfall south of Shanghai in China on Friday.

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