Typhoon Melor (Nona) Kills 42, Destroys More Than 98,000 Homes in Philippines

Typhoon Melor, known locally as Nona, killed 42 people and destroyed more than 98,000 houses according to provisional figures released by the Philippine government over the Christmas holiday.

More than 279,000 homes were damaged by the typhoon, according the most recent situation report issued Dec. 24 by the government's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Of that total, 98,371 houses were classified as "totally destroyed," most of them in three provinces that took direct hits from the eye of the typhoon: Northern Samar (39,470 homes), Oriental Mindoro (30,957 homes) and Sorsogon (23,258 homes).

The typhoon made a total of five landfalls Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 as it raked westward across the island nation.

Of the 42 killed by Melor, at least five were children, the Philippine government also said. Twenty-four injuries were listed in the report, and four people remained missing.

(MORE: Check the Forecast for Typhoon Melor)

Floodwaters up to 45 inches deep were observed on some streets in Pasay City, part of the National Capital Region. A small number of roads have been reported blocked by mudslides and landslides nationwide.

The entire province of Albay, home to over 1.2 million, lost power, according to the Manila Bulletin. 

Before the storm hit, nearly 750,000 people were evacuated into safer areas as experts warned the winds and rain could severely damage some coastal towns. After the storm passed over Oriental Mindoro province, classes, flights and ferry trips remained suspended in the affected areas.

The governor or Oriental Mindoro, Alfonso Umali Jr., told DZMM radio that strong winds were battering the province and iron roofing was flying about, endangering rescuers trying to reach flooded homes during the storm.

Edgar Posadas, a civil defense official, said a 31-year-old man died after being hit Monday by a dislodged tin sheet while he was fixing his house's roof in Northern Samar province.

Floodwaters from the storm remained high after the storm left the area, and some people were forced onto their roofs during and after the storm. According to the Australian Broadcasting Company, rescue crews are using boats to pluck those citizens from their roofs.

"Many people will spend Christmas in evacuation centers without power and potable water," disaster official Jonathan Baldo told the ABC.

The NDRRMC said seven cities and 59 municipalities were still dealing with power interruptions on Dec. 24, a week after the typhoon had degenerated into a remnant low just west of the Philippines.