14 die in RP typhoon

14 die in RP typhoon

MANILA (Reuter): Typhoon Sybil swept across southern Philippines yesterday, wrecking homes, forcing hundreds of families to flee and triggering landslides that killed 14 people, officials said.

Eight others were injured as the typhoon grounded aircraft and lashed ships moored in harbor.

Residents in Valencia, Bukidnon, 850 Km (530 miles) south of Manila, said they heard whirling sounds and a sudden explosion as landslides struck the area during heavy rains, police said.

Police said the 14 dead included seven children. Five of the injured were reported in Bukidnon and three others in Sorsogon, 380 Km (237 miles) south of Manila, after they were hit by flying debris from fallen trees.

In Albay province, 300 Km (187 miles) south of Manila, at least 300 families evacuated to higher grounds as floodwaters inundated their villages.

Civil defense assistant director Ric Dy told reporters some villages in Camalig town at the foot of Mayon volcano were also flooded by cascading waters from the slopes of the volcano.