Typhoon Molave lashes the southern part of the Philippines’ main Luzon island overnight on October 25, dumping heavy rains, toppling power lines and leaving at least 12 fishermen missing. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Typhoon Molave lashed the southern part of the Philippines’ main Luzonisland overnight on October 25, dumping heavy rains, toppling power lines andleaving at least 12 fishermen missing, disaster officials said.
The strongtyphoon, packing wind speeds of 125 km per hour and gustsof up to 150 kph, caused flooding and prompted forced evacuation orders fortens of thousands of people.
There was no immediatereport of casualties, but 12 fishermen at sea failed to return to Catanduanesprovince off the country’s eastern coast, an official of the civil defenceoffice told the local DZMM radio, adding that they have been missing for 24hours.
Search and rescueoperations are underway.
Molave, the 17thtyphoon to hit the Philippines this year, follows Tropical Storm Saudel, whichlast week caused widespread flooding in Quezon province in the Calabarzonregion, southeast of the capital Manila.
In Albay province,15,000 evacuees were allowed to return to their homes but many areas remainedinundated and without power.
About half of thePhilippines’ 107 million population live in the Luzon region. The country ishit by an average 20 typhoons each year.
The agricultureagency said affected regions were able to harvest crops from some 133,292hectares of farmland before the typhoon arrived, saving an estimated 530,593tonnes of unmilled rice from destruction.
Molave isforecast to exit the Philippines on October27 morning and head towards Vietnam./.
VNA
