Powerful Typhoon Rai hits the Philippines and claims at least 169 lives

At least 169 people have now died after a powerful storm struck the Philippines. Super Typhoon Rai – with winds of about 195km/h (120mph) – sent some 300,000 people running for safety when it hit the country’s south-eastern islands on Thursday. EPASuper Typhoon Rai – with winds of about 195km/h (120mph) – sent some 300,000 people running for safety[/caption] AFPThe Typhoon hit the country’s south-eastern islands on Thursday[/caption] Rescue teams have described scenes of “complete carnage”. But establishing the scale of the losses is difficult, as communication to a number of areas has been cut off. There are fears widespread landslides and flooding may have claimed more lives. “Many areas have no power, no communications, very little water,” the chair of the Philippines Red Cross, Richard Gordon, told the BBC. “There are some areas that look like it has been bombed worse than World War Two.” The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an emergency appeal seeking 20 million Swiss francs (£16m; $22m) to fund long-term relief efforts. Most read in The Sun CLOSING DOWN Plans being made for '2-week lockdown' but PM vows not to shut country down COVID DEATH Il Divo star Carlos Marín dies from Covid aged 53 in Manchester hospital Who's your daddy? Call the Midwife star Daniel Laurie is the son of an EastEnders legend FUMING? Strictly viewers have the same complaint after Rose and Giovanni crowned winners ‘NO GUARANTEES’ Brits COULD be hit by miserable Xmas lockdown, warns Sajid Javid SLIGHT XMAS Abrupt Covid crackdown planned after Boxing Day as Omicron surge threatens NHS “Red Cross emergency teams are reporting complete carnage in the coastal areas,” Mr Gordon said. “Homes, hospitals, school and community buildings have been ripped to shreds.” “Volunteers are on the scene giving out urgent help “for people who have lost everything”, he said. APEstablishing the scale of the losses is difficult, as communication to a number of areas has been cut off[/caption] AFPRescue teams have described scenes of ‘complete carnage’[/caption] EPAVolunteers are on the scene giving out urgent help to people who have lost everything[/caption] We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours. Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.