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Philippines' typhoon Phanfone death toll reaches 28

27 December 2019 09:49 (UTC +04:00)

The calamity's death toll has risen to 28 and they expect that the number will grow, local authorities said, APA reports citign Sputnik.

"The likelihood is present that the casualty count will still increase. We're hoping against it", national disaster agency spokesman Mark Timbal said.

He added that at least 12 people were still missing.

Several people drowned, one was electrocuted by a toppled post and another was struck to death by a fallen tree.

"People did not expect that the storm would be that devastating", Mark Timbal said.

Authorities have indicated that gusts of wind reached 200 kilometres (124 miles) per hour when it hit the eastern Samar province.

Note that on Wednesday, the powerful typhoon Phanfone swept across the central part of the country, with some 185,000 local citizens evacuated and over 2,000 buildings destroyed.