A powerful typhoon known locally as Uwan has caused significant damage in the northern Philippine city of Santiago in Isabela province. Homes were battered while trees and electricity poles were brought down by the storm.
«We could not sleep last night because of the winds slamming into our metal roofing and tree branches falling,» said resident Romeo Mariano, who was sheltering at home with his grandmother.
He added that much of the surrounding vegetation had collapsed and their house had sustained visible damage.
Initial figures from the Civil Defence office indicate that at least two people have died and two others were injured as a result of the storm.
In Aurora province, vice-governor Patrick Alexis Angara reported that landslides and damaged roads had cut off access to at least three towns.
«Assessment and clearing operations are underway,» he told DZMM radio.
The national weather service said the typhoon had moved into the South China Sea and was expected to veer northeast towards Taiwan. It warned that large parts of the country still faced heavy rainfall, strong winds and possible coastal storm surges.
More than 400 flights have been cancelled since Sunday, according to the civil aviation authority.
Typhoon Uwan is the 21st storm to strike the Philippines this year and arrived shortly after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which last week claimed 224 lives in the country and caused further fatalities in Vietnam.
