8 dead, thousands evacuated as Tropical Storm Fengshen lashes Philippines

8 dead, thousands evacuated as Tropical Storm Fengshen lashes Philippines
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Tropical Storm Fengshen lashed the northern and central Philippines on Sunday, killing at least eight people and forcing more than 22,000 people to evacuate from flood- and landslide-prone villages, Anadolu Agency reported.

At least three people were injured and another two were missing as authorities imposed a state of emergency in several cities, suspending flights and schools, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

Fengshen was tracked over Manila Bay at midday, with sustained winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour (40 mph).

The tropical storm, known locally as “Ramil,” is expected to exit the Philippines on Monday morning.

The Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo told reporters Fengshen has affected 15,000 families, or roughly 30,000 people, across the country. Twenty-two thousand people have been evacuated, he added.

The storm also caused flooding and landslides in the central and southern Philippines.

The Philippines is prone to tropical storms, with an average of 20 typhoons making landfall each year.