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Super typhoon with 190mph winds batters the Philippines killing at least 16

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - NOVEMBER 01: A rescue worker covers children in a raincoat as they evacuate before Typhoon Goni hits on November 1, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. Super Typhoon Goni, this year's most powerful storm in the world, has made landfall in the Philippines with wind gusts of up to 165 miles per hour early Sunday. At least two people have been killed so far and hundreds of thousands have been evacuated ahead of the storm. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***
A rescue worker covers children in a raincoat as they evacuate before Typhoon Goni hits (Picture: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

At least 16 people have died as a super typhoon devastated the Philippines with 190mph winds and volcanic mudflows that engulfed entire villages.

Typhoon Goni, one of the most powerful typhoons this year, blasted into the eastern island province of Catanduanes, threatening some provinces still recovering from a deadly typhoon that hit a week ago.

Goni barrelled through densely populated regions and threatened to sideswipe Manila, which shut down its main airport, but shifted southward on Sunday night, sparing the capital.

Powerful winds and heavy rains left 10 dead in Albay province and another six in Catanduanes, both south of the main island of Luzon, home to half of the country’s 108 million population.

epa08792413 A resident walks along a muddy street in a village affected by flooding due to typhoon Goni in Batangas City, Batangas Province, located south of Manila, Philippines, 02 November 2020. Typhoon Goni left 16 dead and 3 missing after it hit the Philippines' Bicol region on 01 November, according to reports from the government's Office of Civil Defense. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA REISSUED WITH ALTERNATE TONING
A woman walks along a muddy street in a village affected by flooding (Picture: EPA)
In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers carry a woman following the sudden rise in floodwaters as Typhoon Goni hits Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. The super typhoon blew into the eastern Philippines with disastrous force Sunday. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
The Philippine Coast Guard rescue a woman following the sudden rise in floodwaters (Picture: AP)
In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, members of the Philippine Coast Guard use rubber boats to rescue trapped residents following the sudden rise in floodwaters as Typhoon Goni hits Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. The super typhoon blew into the eastern Philippines with disastrous force Sunday. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
The Philippine Coast Guard use rubber boats to rescue trapped residents (Picture: AP)
This Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, satellite image released by NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) shows Typhoon Goni passing through Philippines. The super typhoon blew into the eastern Philippines with disastrous force Sunday. (NASA via AP)
This satellite image shows Typhoon Goni passing through Philippines (Picture: NASA/AP)

Villagers in Albay fled to safety as the typhoon approached, but a father and son stayed put in the community in Guinobatan town, where about 150 houses were inundated by volcanic mudflow.

‘The child was found 15 kilometres away,’ Albay’s Governor told local radio, adding the boy was swept away by mudflows and found in the next town.

Another three people were reported missing, while other deaths in Albay included a villager who was pinned by a fallen tree.

Catanduanes, a province of 275,000 people, was cut off, with communication and power lines down.

A resident works near a car stuck in mud after Typhoon Goni swept through Daraga, Albay province, Philippines, November 2, 2020, in this photo obtained from social media. David Lee/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
A man tries to free a car engulfed in mud (Picture: Reuters)
epa08792403 A car is stuck near a creek after being carried away by floodwaters due to typhoon Goni in Batangas City, Batangas Province, located south of Manila, Philippines, 02 November 2020. Typhoon Goni left 16 dead and 3 missing after it hit the Philippines' Bicol region on 01 November, according to reports from the government's Office of Civil Defense. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA
A car is stuck near a creek after being carried away by floodwaters (Picture: EPA)
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES - NOVEMBER 02: A resident shovels a road filled with mud left behind by flashfloods caused by Typhoon Goni on November 2, 2020 in Batangas city, south of Manila, Philippines. Super Typhoon Goni, this year's most powerful storm in the world, hit the Philippines with wind gusts of up to 165 miles per hour on November 1. The typhoon left at least ten people killed. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
A man shovels a road filled with mud left behind by flashfloods (Picture: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Residents stand near boulders, washed away from the slopes of nearby Mayon volcano, as houses are seen flooded with mud and silt in Guinobatan town in Albay province on November 2, 2020, after super Typhoon Goni made landfall in the Philippines on November 1. (Photo by CHARISM SAYAT / AFP) (Photo by CHARISM SAYAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Massive boulders were washed away from the slopes of nearby Mayon volcano, as houses were engulfed with mud and silt in Guinobatan town in Albay province (Picture: AFP)

Goni affected 2.1 million residents in Luzon, which accounts for more than two thirds of the economy, and over 50,000 homes were without power on Monday.

The typhoon destroyed up to 80% of homes in several towns in Catanduanes, Senator Richard Gordon, chief of the Philippine Red Cross, told local radio.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is due to inspect areas hit by the typhoon today, as authorities claimed mandatory evacuations had prevented a higher death toll even as some areas remained cut off.

‘The goal should be zero casualties but since people were forcibly evacuated our casualties were reduced,’ Duterte’s spokesperson said.

Duterte will fly to Manila from his home town of Davao and conduct an aerial inspection of some of the worst hit areas.

Ahead of Goni’s landfall, the Philippines was still reeling from typhoon Molave that killed 22 people, mostly through drowning in provinces south of Manila.

Another storm, Atsani, is gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean as it approaches the Philippines, which is usually hit by around 20 tropical storms annually.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s government said Goni is forecast to make landfall on the country’s central coast Wednesday night, dumping more heavy rain in an area where floods and landslides have already killed around 160 people and left dozens of others missing over the past month.

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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/02/super-typhoon-with-190mph-winds-batters-the-philippines-killing-at-least-16-13519008/

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