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Typhoon Phanfone Brings Misery to Philippines on Christmas Day

Agence France-Presse

   MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Typhoon Phanfone pummeled the central Philippines
   on Christmas Day, bringing a wet and miserable holiday season to
   millions in the mainly Catholic nation.

   Thousands were stranded at shuttered ports or evacuation centers at the
   height of the festive season Wednesday, and residents cowered in
   rain-soaked homes as Phanfone leapt from one small island to another
   for the second day.

   The typhoon toppled houses and trees and blacked out cities in the
   Philippines' most storm-prone region, but no deaths were reported.

   Though weaker, Phanfone was tracking a similar path as Super Typhoon
   Haiyan, the country's deadliest cyclone on record, which left more than
   7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.

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