Agencies;- At least 15 people have lost their lives and 21 are missing due to the effects on Philippines of the Tropical Storm Yagiwhich has now become a typhoon and is heading towards China, authorities reported on Wednesday.
The storm, dubbed Enteng in the Philippines, has caused severe flooding and landslides after crossing the island of Luzon on Monday with rain and sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour and maximum gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour.
During a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. today, the disaster relief agency said the death toll had risen to 15, most of them in Luzon, where Manila is located, and that the 21 missing included a group of 15 sailors whose ship sank.
Most of the fatalities were due to landslides, drowning or electrocution, while 15 people were injured as a result of the storm.
More than 1.7 million people have been affected, of which some 88,000 have been displaced, and damages are estimated at 350 million pesos (almost 6.2 million dollars or 5.6 million euros).
The storm also caused the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights and the suspension of classes in more than 450 educational centers.
Marcos asked authorities to focus on search and rescue operations, while work to clear roads and debris continues.
Chinese authorities issued new alerts on Wednesday for Typhoon Yagi, the eleventh this year and considered the first of autumn, which is expected to make landfall between Wanning, on the island of Hainan, and Dianbai, in Canton, on the afternoon of September 6 as a strong typhoon or super typhoon.
The Philippines experiences about 20 typhoons and tropical storms a year, especially during the rainy season, which typically begins in June and ends in November or December.
In July, more than 30 people died in the Philippines due to the effects of Typhoon Gaemi.
