State of calamity declared as Super Typhoon Rai death toll hits 375

COLOLMBO(News1st): A state of calamity has been declared in the Philippines as the devastating aftermath of Super Typhoon Rai has left hundreds of thousands of people destitute.

The death toll has sharply risen to 375 and hundreds have been injured, when Typhoon Rai battered the southern and central regions of the archipelago, wiping out wooden houses, uprooting trees, knocking out power across entire island and cutting out communication.

Troops rushed to distribute food, water and medical aid to typhoon-ravaged islands of the Philippines as charities appealed for aid to help hundreds of thousands left displaced without proper food or shelter, by the deadly storm.

Utter devastation in the areas worst affected by Super Typhoon Rai, which slammed into the country on Thursday, The United Nations reported.

More than 400,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centers or with relatives, after their homes were damaged or destroyed by the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, the national disaster agency stated.

Siargao, Dinagat and Mindanao islands, faced the heaviest impact of the typhoon when it hit, packing winds of 195kmh causing major widespread destruction.

The Red Cross is also flying relief to Siargao and Bohol islands which are popular tourist destinations that had been struggling to recover after COVID-19 restrictions. The UK has pledged around US$1 million to the IFRC effort, which appealed for US$22 million to fund urgent relief and recovery efforts.

Scientists have long warned that typhoons are becoming more powerful and strengthening more rapidly due to global warming.

The Philippines is one of most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change - is hit by an average of 20 storms every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas.