At least five killed in typhoon Noro in the Philippines

At least five people were killed in the Philippines after Typhoon Noru made landfall yesterday. The dead were rescue workers who died in Bulacan province, where the typhoon caused flooding. The five drowned when they hit a collapsing wall during a rescue operation.

President Marcos called for emergency aid and cleaning equipment to be sent by air to the affected areas.

So far, at least 74,000 people have been evacuated. Schools on the main island of Luzon are closed today and officials are also allowed to stay home. In addition, the exchange suspended trading for the day. About half of the 110 million Filipinos live in Luzon. The island accounts for more than two-thirds of the total economy.

Noro, a Category 3 hurricane, made landfall yesterday with winds of up to 185 kph, with peaks of 150 mph. The hurricane lost some strength when it made landfall but nonetheless caused extensive damage.

About 2.5 million people suffer from blackouts in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Aurora due to the natural disaster. The Minister of Energy promised to send generators to the areas affected by the power outage.

The hurricane flooded streets and destroyed homes. The governor of Bulacan province told local radio that the roads were now clear and there were no reports of landslides. The authorities have already started cleaning up here and there.

The Philippines is made up of more than 7,600 islands. The country has an average of 20 tropical storms each year. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan swept through the archipelago. That was one of the worst storms ever. About 6,300 people died.