9 Killed, 5 Missing as Typhoon Melor Wreaks Havoc in Philipines

Typhoon Melor, one of the most powerful typhoons to hit the Phillipines, leaves nine people dead in its wake.

Damage created by Typhoon Melor/Nona. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Disaster officials reported the death of nine people, with missing complaints filed for five people. Chest-deep floodwater disrupted train services causing traffic jams on major roads. Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, in a radio interview, said this was one of the most powerful typhoons to have hit the province in years.

The typhoon which is locally called Nona, had winds at its centre of 130 kmph.

Disaster official Jonathan Baldo said 90 percent of the northern province was affected.

Many people will spend Christmas in evacuation centres without power and potable water. It may take three to four months to restore power in the province after power lines and electricity posts were toppled by strong winds.

Jonathan Baldo

About 120 domestic flights were grounded and nearly 200 ferry services were stopped.

The storm forced the evacuation of about 800,000 people to shelters. Another storm is expected to hit the southern Philippines later this week, forecaster Accuweather said.

An average of 20 typhoons pass through the Philippines each year. In 2013, typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,300 people and left 1.4 million homeless in the central Philippines.

Melor/Nona has weakened slightly and is now over the South China Sea.

(With inputs from agencies)