Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Typhoon Vongfong Kills at Least One, Damages Homes in Philippines

VOA News

   Officialsin the Philippinessaystrongwinds and rain from
   TyphoonVongfongkilled at least one person and damaged hundreds of homes
   and coronavirus isolation facilitieswhen the storm made landfall inthe
   southeasternpart of the nation.

   Gov. BenEvardoneof Eastern Samar province, where the typhoon slammed
   ashore,told the Associated Pressdistraught residents wept after their
   houses were destroyed or blown away in the towns he inspected.The
   governor said one villager who lost his home slashed his wrist but was
   treated in time.

   Evardonesaid aman bled to death after he was hit by glass shards in a
   schoolbuilding,where hewas trying to take shelter.

   In the outlying region of Bicol, northwest of Eastern Samar, more than
   145,000 people were riding out the weakening typhoon in emergency
   shelters on Friday after a mass evacuation that was complicated and
   slowed by the coronavirus.

   Forecasters with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center in
   HawaiisayVongfongweakened into a severe tropical storm after hitting
   land and was blowing northwest toward the populous main northern island
   of Luzon.

   Its maximum sustained wind speed dropped to 110 kilometers per hour
   with gusts of 150 kilometers perhourbut it remained dangerous,
   especially in coastal and low-lying villages, forecasters
   said.Vongfongwas expected to blow out of the country's north on Sunday.

   The typhoon's arrival comesas the Philippines struggles to deal with
   coronavirus outbreaks, largely with a lockdown in Luzon that is to be
   eased this weekend, except in metropolitan Manila and two other
   high-risk areas. The rest of the country will be placed in less
   restrictive quarantine, and crucial businesses will partially reopen
   starting next week.

   The Philippines has reported more than 12,000 cases, including 806
   deaths, among the highest in Southeast Asia.