Pagudpud, Philippines: Super Typhoon Haima, the strongest storm to hit the Philippines in three years, ripped through major rice growing regions, damaging crops and houses, and forced more than 90,000 people to flee to safer ground, officials said on Thursday.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from Haima which hit the northern Philippines late on Wednesday with destructive 225 kmh (140 mph) winds and heavy rain.
"We have received several reports of roofs that were ripped off because of strong winds," said Mina Marasigan, spokeswoman at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
"Power lines have been cut off and mobile phone signals were intermittent."
Haima, the 12th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, comes just days after Typhoon Sarika also slammed into the northern provinces, damaging 3 billion pesos ($63 million) worth of crops.
Haima hit the country's major rice-growing provinces such as Cagayan, Isabela and Ilocos provinces, which were due to produce about 3.8 million tonnes of unmilled rice in the December quarter, or half of the projected national output, based on a government forecast.
Some rice fields were inundated and roads were not passable because of fallen electric posts and trees and floods.
Authorities said they had begun crop damage assessments.
Isabela's Governor Faustino Dy III advised people in his province to stay indoors, including those displaced families who sought shelter in evacuation centres, as the local government started clearing the roads of debris.
Storm warning signals were lifted in some areas, including Metro Manila, where schools were shut.
Haima on Thursday weakened as it moved away from the Philippines and over the South China Sea. It is expected to reach China by Friday.
An average of 20 typhoons hit the Southeast Asian nation every year. Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines in 2013, killing at least 6,000 people.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There were no immediate reports of casualties from Haima which hit the northern Philippines late on Wednesday with destructive 225 kmh (140 mph) winds and heavy rain.
"We have received several reports of roofs that were ripped off because of strong winds," said Mina Marasigan, spokeswoman at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Haima, the 12th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, comes just days after Typhoon Sarika also slammed into the northern provinces, damaging 3 billion pesos ($63 million) worth of crops.
Advertisement
Some rice fields were inundated and roads were not passable because of fallen electric posts and trees and floods.
Advertisement
Isabela's Governor Faustino Dy III advised people in his province to stay indoors, including those displaced families who sought shelter in evacuation centres, as the local government started clearing the roads of debris.
Advertisement
Haima on Thursday weakened as it moved away from the Philippines and over the South China Sea. It is expected to reach China by Friday.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2016
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
China Has Anchored "Monster Ship" In South China Sea, Warns Philippines Chinese Sailors Wield Knives, Axe In Galwan-Style Clash With Philippines Chinese Sailors Wield Knives, Axe In Disputed Sea Clash With Philippines Could Kamala Harris Beat Trump In US Presidential Race? Polls Suggest... 4 Terrorists Killed In J&K Hid In 'Bunker' With Entry From Fake Cupboard Sena Leader Arrested After Son Kills Mumbai Woman In BMW Crash Writer Alice Munro's Daughter Says Stepdad Assaulted Her, And She Knew Disaster Averted But Emmanuel Macron Still Faces Big Challenge Ahead Kamala Harris' Husband Tests Positive For Covid. She Is Negative Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.