Typhoon Utor with winds blowing at the speed of 200 kmph wreaked havoc in the Philippines, destroying houses, uprooting trees, cables and causing major landslides in several areas, on Monday.
The killer typhoon claimed the life of a 23-year-old who was trapped in a landslide and later taken to hospital, reported Phil Star. According to The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the victim got trapped when he was cleaning a canal.
Typhoon Utor locally called 'Labuyo' is said to have displaced over 244 families in the country's Albay, Camarines Norte and Aurora areas. An Associated Press report stated that around 1,000 people in the Bicon region spent nights in shelters.
Several areas witnessed blackouts and fierce winds along with heavy rains. A covered basketball court was reportedly washed away in the rains.
As the typhoon grazed the northern part of the country, a boat comprising 25 fishermen have reportedly gone missing.
Bernardo Alejandro IV, regional director of Office of Civil Defense sounding hopeful said, "I hope they're just waiting for the typhoon to pass and will show up as soon as the weather clears."
Several flights were reportedly cancelled owing to the strong winds. Schools and other institutions have been shut down.
The typhoon passing through the northern part of the island nation on Monday is said to move upwards to the South China Sea by Tuesday and then to China.
Typhoons and storms are not uncommon in the Philippines. On an average, the country witnesses some 20 tropical storms every year. A deadly storm struck the country in December last year killing over 1,000 people.
