Dec 26, 2019

Deadly Typhoon Phanfone devastates central Philippines

Residents wade through a flooded highway, caused by heavy rains from Typhoon Phanfone, in Ormoc City, Leyte province, in the central Philippines Wednesday. Photo: RONALD FRANK DEJON/AFP via Getty Images)

A typhoon that pummeled the central Philippines on Christmas Day has killed at least 16 people, Filipino authorities said Thursday, per AFP.

The big picture: Typhoon Phanfone packed ripped off roofs, downed power lines and caused internet and cell phone network outages as it made landfall packing winds of 120 miles mph, AFP notes. Some 3,930 travelers were still stranded at ports across the island nation following the storm by 8 a.m. Thursday local time, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

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Rebecca Falconer

In photos: Puerto Rico in state of emergency after back-to-back quakes

A damaged street in Guanica town after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Puerto Rico, Jan. 7. Photo: Alejandro Granadillo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

President Trump approved Wednesday Puerto Rico's request for a federal disaster declaration following a series of earthquakes this week that killed at least one person and displaced about 2,000 people, according to Disaster Relief.

What's happening: Gov. Wanda Vázquez declared a state of emergency Tuesday after two earthquakes measuring magnitudes of 6.4 and 5.8 struck. The quakes have caused widespread power outages on the island, which is still struggling to recover from 2017's Hurricane Maria. Aftershocks have continued to shake the island.

See photosJan 9, 2020

Rebecca Falconer

Taal volcano in Philippines erupting and triggering earthquakes

People ride outrigger canoes to reach their homes near the foot of Taal volcano as it spews ash south of Manila on Monday. Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images

The Philippines' Taal volcano has been erupting 40 miles south of the Manila and triggering at least 52 earthquakes and ashfall across the region, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement Monday.

What's happening: Manila's international airport suspended flights and schools canceled classes across the region because of ash from the eruption, as the alert level was raised to 4 out of 5.

Go deeperUpdated Jan 13, 2020

Rebecca Falconer

Australia fires: Race to evacuate thousands before conditions worsen

Cars line up to leave the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

Australian authorities are racing to evacuate thousands of people stranded in the states of New South Wales and Victoria before high temperatures and strong winds return — with the military helping people escape the deadly wildfires by air and sea.

The latest: Victoria's Premier Dan Andrews declared a state of disaster for six local government areas and the Alpine Resorts overnight — the first time ever in the state. NSW is declaring a seven-day state of emergency, effective Friday morning (local time), state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. It's NSW's third state of emergency during this bushfire season.

Go deeperUpdated Jan 2, 2020