Typhoon kills 12 in Philippines, heads to China

Tuguegarao - Death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports are verified.

Typhoon Mangkhut lashed the northern Philippines with destructive winds and heavy rain that set off landslides and destroyed homes on Saturday, leaving at least 12 people dead, as Hong Kong and other parts of southern China braced for the powerful storm.
Francis Tolentino, an adviser to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, said the 12 died mostly in landslides and houses that got pummelled by the storm's fierce winds and rain.
Among the fatalities were an infant and a two-year-old child who died with their parents after the couple refused to immediately evacuate from their high-risk community in a mountain town in Nueva Vizcaya province, Tolentino said.
"They can't decide for themselves where to go," he said of the children, expressing frustration that the tragedy was not prevented.
Tolentino said at least two other people were missing. He said the death toll could climb to at least 16 once other casualty reports were verified.

• Philippines