Over 200 dead as Philippines reels from Typhoon Rai

At least 208 people have died, with the devastation posing a threat to the lives of thousands of others.

Typhoon Rai struck quite late in the typhoon season, with most storms developing between July and October in the region.

At least 208 people have died after a powerful typhoon slammed into the Philippines last week, the national police said on December 20. The tally showed at least 52 people are still missing, with dozens of others incurring injuries.

Typhoon Rai, one of the most powerful tropical storms to have struck the archipelago, made landfall on December 16, with wind speeds of up to 195 kilometers (120 miles) an hour. The typhoon, which would have been classed as a category 5 hurricane in the US when it first enveloped the southern islands, has since moved to the South China Sea. The extent of the damage wrought by the powerful winds is becoming clearer with every passing day. The country's national disaster agency said more than 480,000 had been displaced.

Local officials ask for relief

Arthur Yap, the regional governor of Bohol in central Philippines, said at least 74 people had died in his province alone. Yap has been constantly communicating with the public over social media posts on Facebook. On December 19, he told the public he asked mayors of towns to invoke their emergency powers to secure food and water for people. The Philippine Red Cross reported "completed carnage" in coastal areas too. The organization's chairman, Richard Gordon, previously reported that "homes, hospitals, school and community buildings" were completely destroyed by the winds. Pope Francis offered his condolences, too.

At least 10 people had died on the Dinagat Islands, in the south, provincial information officer Jeffrey Crisostomo told AFP news agency on December 19. Siargao, Dinagat and Mindanao were among the islands that bore the brunt of the storm.

Emergency services continue

Thousands of military, police, coast guard and fire personnel have been deployed to assist with rescue operations. Coast guard and naval vessels carrying food, water and medical supplies have been dispatched. Heavy machinery, like backhoes and front-end loaders, has also been sent out to help clear streets blocked by fallen power poles and trees. Entire villages and towns remained without electricity as power lines went down, as did communication lines. The damage from Rai has led to comparisons with super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck in 2013 and left more than 7,300 people dead or missing.

rm/jsi (AFP, AP, Reuters)