Megi's furious legacy is a deadly trail of destruction

Manila: Philippine disaster management authorities took stock of the damage caused by Megi, the biggest typhoon to visit the country in 20 years.

In pictures: Super Typhoon Megi
Rice crop at risk as Megi smashes Luzon

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) head Benito Ramos said they have so far accounted for 10 fatalities and 12 injured in various parts of northern Philippines.

The fury of Megi's winds subsided as it exited the country.

Most of the victims died after being crushed by trees that fell after the powerful 260 kilometres per hour winds whipped up by Megi (local codename: Juan).

In San Fabian town in Pangasinan, three members of the Vidal family — mother Ana, 29, and her children Aj (four years old) and Oj (two years old) — died after they were pinned down by a falling coconut tree.

Ramos said they expect the casualty numbers to rise in the coming days as reports come in from the affected areas. Dozens of people remain unaccounted for hours after the typhoon passed.

Those who are staying in evacuation centres were 387 people from the Ilocos region, 3,833 from Cagayan Valley and 350 from Central Luzon.

According to President Benigno Aquino the Department of Social Welfare and Development is attending to the needs of 8,042 evacuees.

Aquino, in a statement released yesterday, said he was thankful that despite the country having experienced the "strongest typhoon the world experienced this year," there was relatively minimal loss of life.