At least 31 people have died after a powerful typhoon hit the Philippines.
Typhoon Rai blew into the South China Sea overnight, after tearing through southern and central areas of the country, where more than 300-thousand people were evacuated.
It's caused widespread destruction, with power and communication lines out, trees knocked down and roofs blown off.
At its strongest, Rai packed sustained winds of 195 kilometers (121 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 270 kph (168 mph), one of the most powerful in recent years
Journalist Anshu Singh posted this video on social media:
Death toll from #Philippines #typhoon rises to 33, dozens missing pic.twitter.com/4a7fjawiuS
— Anshu Singh (@Anshujourno92) December 18, 2021
The archipelago is located in the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire” region .About 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year
