(CNN)A typhoon that lashed the central Philippines on Christmas Day has killed at least People and caused damage to homes and tourist areas.
TyphoonPhanfone, known locally as Typhoon Ursula, first made landfall on Eastern Samar province on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and storm surges. It hit as the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane, packing sustained wind speeds of (kilometers) miles) per hour,with gustsof (kilometers)miles (per hour.)
Phanfone continued to sweep west across the islands of the Eastern Visayas region, southern Luzon and Western Visayas on Wednesday, toppling electricity pylons and trees, tearing off roofs, damaging homes and causing widespread travel disruption over the busy Christmas period.
The region is majority Catholic and many people were preparing for family celebrations when the typhoon hit.
****** Images from the area showed debris blocking roads, downed lamp posts, crumpled houses and people huddling in evacuation centers.
On Thursday, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 15 people had died in the Western Visayas region, while the Office of Civil Defense said three had died in Eastern Visayas, according toCNN affiliate CNN Philippines.
CNN Philippines had previously reported that national and local agencies had announced 21 deaths. That figure has since been revised as agencies attempt to verify the number of those affected.
Two of the victims were electrocuted and one was hit by a falling mango tree, officials said.
One of the victims, – year-old Carlos Yu Beltran, drowned when his house was swept away in a storm surge in Balangkayan town on Samar,accordingto the government Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Five fishermen from Samar Island are also missing.
“Let’s hope and pray that they are safe, “Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone said in a statement.
Around 2, 461 People have been affected by the typhoon and 1, people were taking refuge in evacuation centers, according to the Philippine National Disaster Management Agency, NDRRMC. A total of (**************************************************************, people were pre-emptively evacuated ahead of the typhoon, the NDRRMC said.
The agency said 121 cities and municipalities experienced power outages, and by Thursday, ************************************************************** of those have had power restored.
Phanfone followed a similar path to the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in (****************************************, which was one of the most powerful storms on record and killed at least 6, 02 people.
The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined as power and Communications in several areas remain cut off.
Some tourist areas, including the popular resort island of (Boracay) , were also damaged on Wednesday. The nearby Kalibo International Airport was temporarily closed and flights canceled after the typhoon damaged the roof of the terminal building,accordingto an advisory from Philippine Airlines.
Thousands of people who were traveling over the Christmas period had their flights and ferries canceled due to the typhoon.Some (domestic flights were canceled and more than, (passengers left stranded, according to the NDRRMC.
Almost 4, 02 People remained stranded in several ports around the region on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guardsaid.
The Philippines gets hit by more typhoons than any other country,to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Earlier this monthTyphoon Kammuri,the twentieth to hit the country this year,killed (peopleand damaged more than 8,**************************************************************** houses.
****** On Thursday, Phafone was tracking over the South China. Sea with winds of a (km) miles) per hour. The storm is expected to maintain typhoon intensity for at least the next hours as it moves westward, but will weaken to a tropical depression before making landfall in northern Vietnam on Sunday, according to CNN meteorologists.
This story has been updated to include a revised total death toll.
CNN’s Akanksha Sharma contributed reporting.
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