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Typhoon displaces thousands in Philippines

AAP
At least 250,000 villagers in the Philippines were displaced after a typhoon hit the country.
Camera IconAt least 250,000 villagers in the Philippines were displaced after a typhoon hit the country.

A fast-moving typhoon has blown away from the Philippines after leaving at least 13 people missing, forcing thousands of villagers to flee to safety and flooding rural villages, disaster-response officials say.

The 13 people missing from Typhoon Molave include a dozen fishermen who ventured out to sea at the weekend despite a no-sail restriction due to very rough seas. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The typhoon was blowing west towards the South China Sea on Monday with sustained winds of 125km/h and gusts up to 150km/h.

It roared overnight through island provinces south of the capital, Manila, which was lashed by strong winds but escaped major damage.

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At least 25,000 villagers were displaced, with about 20,000 taking shelter in schools and government buildings that were turned into evacuation centers, the Office of Civil Defence said, but officials added some had returned home in regions where the weather had cleared.

Dolor said pounding rains overnight swamped farming villages in his province then fierce winds toppled trees and power posts early on Monday, knocking out power.

In the eastern province of Catanduanes, the 12 fishermen were reported missing after they failed to return home from a weekend fishing expedition.

A yacht sank off Batangas province, south of Manila, and the coast guard said it managed to rescue seven crewmen but was still searching for another crew member.

More than 1800 cargo truck drivers, workers and passengers were stranded in ports after the coast guard barred ships and ferry boats from venturing into rough seas. Some of the ports were later reopened as the weather cleared.

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