A photo provided by the Philippine Red Cross (Photo: http://the star.com.my) Hanoi (VNA) - TheRed Cross of the Philippines said on November 3 that eight towns on Catanduanesisland were cut off and it could take months to restore power to the island of260,000 people, which was devastated by the most powerful typhoon this year.
According to the Red Cross, an estimated 25,000 houses on the island weredestroyed by Typhoon Goni, which was packing winds of 225 kilometres per hourwhen it slammed into the island on November 1 before sweeping across southernLuzon.
Robert Kaufman, country head for the International Federation of Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies, said there are no telecoms services on the island andit could take months to restore power.
Emergency rescuers were trying to reach eight towns that have been cut off bylandslides, Kaufman said.
Ferocious winds and torrential rain destroyed at least 25,000 homes on theisland and damaged another 45,000, he said, noting that the numbers areexpected to rise.
Goni came a week after Typhoon Molave roared through the country. At least 20people were killed by Goni, including six in Catanduanes and 14 in nearby Albayprovince on Luzon island.
It is the strongest storm in the world so far this year and one of thestrongest to hit the Philippines since super typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which claimedover 6,300 lives./.
