Typhoon leaves at least 8 dead in north Philippines

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) – A super typhoon that swept through the northern Philippines has left at least eight people dead and two others missing.

Edgar Allan Tabell, Department of the Interior and Local Government director, was quoted by the Philippine Star as saying that no fishermen had been reported missing as of Thursday evening when "Lawin" -- known internationally as Haima -- left the country’s area of responsibility.

Lawin -- which left many provinces without electricity -- was the second typhoon to hit the country in just four days, following Karen (Sarika), which displaced thousands of people, toppled electric pylons, tore off roofs and smashed windows.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s undersecretary, Vilma Cabrera, said 18,277 families -- consisting of around 80,275 people -- were taking shelter at 209 evacuation centers as of Thursday night.

According to the state-run news agency, Lawin had severely damaged houses, toppled trees, electric posts and left several areas inundated with water.

The Philippines suffers around 20 typhoons and storms each year, many of them deadly.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan -- one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded -- struck the country’s central islands, leaving more than 8,000 people dead, missing and injured.