The Asian country, which has over 7,000 islands, is prone to typhoons. Winds reached nearly 200 kilometers per hour (125 miles per hour) as the forecast suggests it will continue to wreak havoc until the weekend.
Image: AFP/R. F. Dejon
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At least 20 people were killed by Typhoon Phanfone as the storm's full effects became apparent on Thursday, according to officials.
Among the dead were a 13-year-old boy who was electrocuted, a man killed by a tree branch and another had a fatal
car accident due to the conditions, the Philippines disaster agency said.
The death toll may continue to rise as authorities search for a number of people who are still missing after the destructive winds came ashore over Christmas.
The confirmed fatalities were from the provinces of Iloilo, Leyte and Capiz.
Thousands affected, internet down
The deadly typhoon contained winds of up to 195 kilometers per hour (120 miles per hour).
Tens of thousands were left stranded, homeless or in fear for their lives as Phanfone caused destruction across the Southeast Asian country. Communication has become difficult, with online access and mobile phone coverage at a minimum.
The storm has left more than 24,000 residents stuck at ports or evacuation centers, and thousands of others housebound.
Phanfone, the 21st cyclone to hit the archipelagic country in 2019 alone, is expected to continue to wreak havoc until Saturday, according to the weather bureau.
Philippines: Typhoon Kammuri displaces hundreds of thousands
The powerful typhoon Kammuri has forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes in the Philippines. It has severely disrupted travel, work and school in the archipelago nation.
Image: Reuters/G.C. Vidal
Massive disruption
Typhoon Kammuri has caused widespread disruption to life in the Philippines, shutting down schools, offices and transport amid fierce winds and heavy rain. Over 483,000 people were forced to flee their homes in Bicol and nearby provinces. Officials warned of storm surges and prolonged heavy rain.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Not the first one this year
Kammuri, locally called Tisoy, is the 20th cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, according to the weather bureau. It was expected to move past the country by Friday morning.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Favila
Airport shut down
The storm's potent gusts forced authorities to close Manila's international airport on Tuesday as a precaution. Nearly 500 flights were cancelled, and officials warned passengers not to come to the airport.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Stranded travelers
The Philippines' coast guard also suspended sea travel in the northeast, stranding thousands of travelers, cargo ships and smaller watercraft in the archipelago nation.
Image: AFP/A. Beronio
Rescheduling games
The Philippines is currently hosting thousands of Southeast Asian athletes for biennial regional games that opened on Saturday and run until December 11. The storm has forced organizers to postpone several events until later in the competition, among them surfing, kayak, windsurfing, polo, sailing, skateboarding and canoeing.
Image: Reuters/G.C. Vidal
A disaster-prone nation
The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year and has frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, making the archipelago of more than 100 million people one of the world's most disaster-prone nations. The country's deadliest cyclone on record was Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.
