The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has pummelled the southern and central regions of the country knocking out communications, tearing roofs off buildings and causing widespread damage.

Published 3 years ago

The popular cruising and tourist destination of Palawan Island as well as the Visayas and the southern island of Mindanao were particularly hard hit and there are concerns for a number of cruising yachts known to be in those locations.

Several Facebook pages for cruisers in South East Asian regions have seen postings from friends and family wanting news of sailors who were known to be in the west of Palawan Island and in Puerto Princessa.

Typhoon Rai crossed the southern and central Philippines on December 16, 2021, having intensified to a Category 5 strength just hours before landfall. Locally named Odette, the storm was one of the strongest recorded on Earth this year and the sixth to reach Category 5.

Describing Typhoon Rai as “one of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit the southern Philippines”, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said the storm had “torn houses to pieces”, “smashed” villages and left parts of several cities underwater.

Forecasters from the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicted that the storm would head toward Vietnam and southern China in the coming days.

About 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year. The archipelago also lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire region, making it one of the countries most susceptible to natural calamities.

Rai (Odette) is the 15th typhoon to pass through or close to the Philippines this year. The archipelago typically sees more landfalling storms annually than any other place on Earth.

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Related News:

More than 140 Dead, Mayor Pleads for Food Aid (TVNZ)

Many Dead, Villages Smashed as Typhoon Batters the Philippines (Al Jazeera)

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Related Links:

US Joint Typhoon Warning Center

Sail SE Asia Boat Information Sharing FB Group

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.

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