Manila: A hanging bridge was damaged and hectares of corn and vegetables were destroyed by a swollen river that engulfed two villages in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon in the southern Philippines late on Wednesday night.
The disastrous effects of Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) were felt across the region as it flitted on the western side, officials said yesterday.
Villages in Zamboanga del Sur and Davao del Norte, also in the south, were flooded and suffered landslides, affecting residents who were evacuated to safer places, said Undersecretary Benito Ramos of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Many places in the southern Philippines unexpectedly suffered as authorities said that Songda's path would include central Philippines, southern Luzon, Metro Manila, northern Luzon, said Ramos.
Avoided land
"Songda has a 600km radius, so it brought in more rains and winds even if it did not land on Philippines soil. It was predicted to pour 30 millimetres of rain per hour," explained Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, acting chief of the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Yesterday at 10am Songda was cited 230km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes and 400km southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, both in southern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of up to 205kph, said Yumul.
It was predicted to move 200km northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, by today and 250km northeast of Basco, Batanes by tomorrow morning, Yumul said.
Thousands of evacuated residents in southern Luzon's Bicol region returned home after Songda passed.
Hundreds stranded
Hundreds remained stranded in areas which had been warned about the storm, because authorities refused to lift bans on fishing boats, ships, and airplanes.
Meanwhile, storm warnings were lowered in Samar provinces in central Philippines in southern Luzon, and parts of northern Luzon, but winds and rough seas were present.
Metro Manila was sunny and roads were passable yesterday after suffering rains and flashfloods on Wednesday night.
Yumul said it would not last for long because the rainy season was due to start tomorrow.
Songda was the third typhoon to enter the Philippines this year.
Some 21 typhoons sweep through the country every year.
