Several killed after Typhoon Goni hits the Philippines

Six of the victims of Typhoon Goni were killed in the northern highland states of Mountain Province and Beguet after they were buried in rocks and mud after landslides triggered by the torrential rain. Another man was reported killed after he as hit by a falling tree, according to a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council released on Saturday. Some reports put the death toll from Goni as high as nine.

According to the Council, large portions of the northern highlands remained without electricity on Saturday, as work continued on repairing the damage caused by the storm, which continued to pack sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 195 kph.

The governor of Benguet province, Nestor Fongwan, reported that rescuers were scrambling to dig out two villagers buried in a landslide there.

The storm has also caused significant disruption to public transport, with several flights and ferry crossings having been cancelled.

The storm's power was slightly diminished as it moved along a path which is not expected to see Gorni make landfall on Taiwan; however, around 1,700 tourists have been evacuated from its outlying Green and Orchid islands. China's eastern province of Fujian, which is located to the west across the Taiwan Straight, has evacuated nearly 5,000 people from coastal areas.

Earlier this month, Typhoon Soudelor killed and least 21 people after making landfall in Fujian.

Gonji is the night of what are expected to be a total of around 20 typhoons to sweep through the region this year.

pfd/ng (dpa, AFP, AP)