Typhoon Rai in Philippines leads to 18 deaths so far

18 deaths have taken place due to the Typhoon Rai in Philippines so far. The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year and the agency warned Saturday of “severe damage” in the hardest-hit areas.

30,000 people and more fled from their homes and beachfront resorts as  a result of the damage in the southern and central regions of the country. Communications in many areas and toppling concrete power poles knocked out due to this.

Rai was a super typhoon when it smashed into the popular tourist island of Siargao on Thursday, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour (120 miles per hour).

The number of military, police, coast guard and fire personnel will surpass the 18,000 to go on a search for rescuing people in the worst-affected regions, Mark Timbal, spokesman for the national disaster agency, told AFP.

“There has been severe damage” in Surigao and Siargao, Timbal said, talking about the typhoon.