Super Typhoon Koppu Update: At Least 4 Killed as 'Lando' Batters Philippines
Super Typhoon Koppu with local typhoon name Lando has killed at least four people as it continues to move slowly in the Philippines, although recent reports suggest that the storm signals in several areas of the countries are slowly downgrading.
The storm that made landfall last Sunday has since killed four people including a 62-year-old woman, who died when the storm's raging winds toppled down a wall. Meanwhile, a 14-year-old in Metro Manila was also killed through a collapsed tree while two unidentified bodies were said to have found in Nueva Ecija, Bloomberg reported.
Apparently, the whole town of San Antonio in Nueva Ecija was submerged in water. Local residents had to go up to the roofs of their houses to be rescued through boats. Bloomberg reports that 33 of 39 people were rescued.
Floods, landslides and power loss also occurred in the country caused by Typhoon Koppu. 16,000 villagers experienced the power shortage, according to the Associated Press. Latest reports suggest that the storm's center is currently in the northern part of the country, particularly in Vigan, Ilocos with maximum sustained winds of up to 120 km/h.
The storm is headed to Taiwan when it finally leaves the Philippines on Tuesday, Oct. 20 (PH), but it is expected to linger in the country until the weekend, as per Rappler.
However, despite reports claiming the weakened storm, officials said that it is best to prepare for safety measures. "We're asking our countrymen not to become complacent," said Alexander Pama, head of the government's disaster-response agency, as quoted by the Associated Press.
Meanwhile operations are on-going according to Kate Marshall, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross based in Luzon. The "main concerns are to be able to get out there and visit (remote) communities and try and work out a way to help communities that have been cut off, with what ever means we have at our disposal, and to make sure that our volunteers and staff stay safe as well," Marshall said.
The Philippines is one of the countries in the world very close to experiencing such natural disasters because it is located near the Pacific Ocean. Bloomberg reports that 20 cyclones are annually hitting the country.
The country is also reportedly the second most-at-risk nation in the whole world next to Japan. Last 2013, the Philippines experienced the ferocious Typhoon Haiyan that left more than 7,300 people dead or missing.
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