MANILA (AFP) - Eight more people were reported killed in the
northern Philippines as tropical storm Halong intensified on
Monday, raising the death toll to 12, the civil defence office
said.
The storm lashed the northern Philippines Sunday, with the
provinces of Pangasinan and La Union in Luzon island bearing the
brunt of its fury.
Strong winds whipped up by the storm blew away tin roofs and
uprooted trees and electricity posts, while the heavy rains flooded
large areas, cutting off thousands, it said.
Rescuers said they had plucked from the sea two crew members of
the cargo vessel Edago Expedition, which was reported lost at the
height of the storm after sailing off the port of Mindoro
Sunday.
It was not clear how many were aboard the vessel, the coast
guard said, adding that search and rescue operations were
continuing.
As of early Monday, Halong was moving northeastward away from
the Philippines, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers
(58.9 miles) per hour near the centre and gusts of up to 120
kilometers (182 miles) an hour.
The storm "has accelerated as it continues to move
northeastward" away from the country, and was expected to be around
400 kilometers (248 miles) southeast of Okinawa, Japan by Tuesday
morning.
Large areas remained without power or vital communication lines
Monday, with schools used as evacuation centres, the civil defence
office said.
Damage to infrastructure and agriculture "are expected to be
extensive," it added.
Some 34,756 people were affected in 12 towns and three cities in
five provinces, it said.
The state weather bureau said gale-force winds were expected to
create huge waves that may affect the western seaboard of Luzon
island, with sea conditions expected to be very rough