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Typhoon Kammuri flooding forces tens of thousands from their homes in Philippines

  • The Philippines has been hit by some of its worst flooding in decades, caused by Typhoon Kammuri
  • At least 13 have died, 1,200 homes have been destroyed, and the Southeast Asian Games were briefly disrupted

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A house is surrounded by flooded fields after Typhoon Kammuri hit parts of the north of the Philippines. Photo: AFP
The north of the Philippines has been hit by some of its worst flooding in decades, with torrents of muddy run-off forcing 66,000 from their homes and prompting rescues of trapped locals, authorities said on Friday.
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Luzon island, the nation’s largest, has been hit by a string of storms that have battered its northern tip while monsoon rains were intensified by the passage of Typhoon Kammuri this week.

Large swathes of lush green land were inundated after rivers burst their banks, leaving only treetops visible above the waterline.

Landslides have cut off roads to some isolated towns and some bridges are covered by the flooding. However, authorities said they have not confirmed any deaths caused by the high water.

“This is one of the biggest floods in decades,” said Rogelio Sending, information officer for Cagayan province in the northeast of Luzon.

The floodwaters have forced about 66,000 people to flee their homes, some of whom had to be rescued by emergency crews in boats, local disaster authorities said.

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The north of the country has had heavy rains for nearly a month as part of monsoon season, which was worsened by at least three typhoons that have passed the Philippines since November.

Typhoon Kammuri pounded the storm-prone nation this week, leaving at least 13 people dead.

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