NINETY-SIX areas in the Philip­pines are still without electricity, after a typhoon that hit the region on Christmas Day.

The late season Typhoon Nock-ten killed at least three people, after it narrowly spared the heavily populated capital, Manila. More than 380,000 people had to abandon their Christmas preparations and flee to evacuation centres on Christ­mas Eve.

The Philippine Red Cross said that 110,000 homes had been destroyed by the storm — which had winds of 74mph — as well as schools, crops, and health facilities. The total cost of the destruction is estimated at $20,108,390.

Thousands of travellers were stranded at airports as flights were can­celled, and more than 12,000 spent Christmas stuck at ports after authorities barred ferries from sail­ing.

Devastating typhoons — most notably Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 — have battered the Philippines in recent years. Haiyan, considered to be among the strongest storms to make landfall in recorded history, killed more than 6000 people and forced nearly four million people from their homes.

The director of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs for World Vision (WV) Philippines, Ajab Aram Macapagat, said: “World Vision is deeply concerned about the well-being of children and families affected by Typhoon Nock-ten, especially those living in coastal areas who have lost their houses, and those who are exposed to physical dangers from debris and garbage.

“Assessment reports by both the Philippines government and World Vision show that the needs in the hardest hit areas include shelter materials, school supplies, and livelihood support. These findings also show that the district of Lag­onoy — where World Vision runs operational projects — is one of the cities most affected by Typhoon Nock-ten.

“World Vision’s initial typhoon Nock-ten emergency response will aim to distribute relief items, which include hygiene kits, mosquito nets and blankets, to 660 families whose houses have been destroyed in Lagonoy.

“Depending on the availability of funding, World Vision will also respond to non-WV operational areas in Camarines Sur and Albay to complete assisting 2000 families — or approximately 10,000 people.

“We are also working closely with the National Disaster Risk Reduc­tion and Management Council and local government authorities to en­­sure that we are responding to this emergency and assisting commu­nities in the most efficient and effective way possible.”