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Typhoon Leaves at Least 16 Dead Across Central Philippines

Agence France-Presse

   MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Tourists on the popular Philippine holiday island
   of Boracay were stranded Thursday after a typhoon swept through
   Christmas Day, killing at least 16 people in other parts of the county.

   Typhoon Phanfone, with wind gusts reaching 200 kilometres (125 miles)
   an hour, tore roofs off houses and toppled electric posts as it ripped
   through the central Philippines Wednesday.

   At least 16 people were killed in villages and towns in the Visayas,
   the central third of the Philippines, according to disaster agency
   officials.

   Phanfone also hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations that
   are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign
   tourists.

   Mobile phone and internet access on Boracay was cut during the storm
   Wednesday and the networks remained down Thursday, making assessment of
   the damage there difficult.

   "Still, communication lines are down. Electricity is still down,"
   Jonathan Pablito, police chief of Malay town in Aklan province, which
   is on a neighboring island to Boracay, told AFP.

   Pablito said ferry services between Boracay and Aklan, the main way to
   travel to and from the holiday island, were not operating Thursday.

   "We have no news from coast guard if ships were allowed to sail. Since
   the 24th... all those going to the island and coming from the island
   weren't able to cross," he said.

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