Powerful Typhoon Batters Philippines, At Least 16 Killed

At least 16 people were killed and 22 were missing as a powerful typhoon battered the northern and eastern Philippines, officials said Wednesday.

Photo: Powerful Typhoon Batters Philippines, At Least 16 Killed

Typhoon Conson made landfall late Tuesday in north-eastern Quezon province, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to Manila and several provinces in the main northern island of Luzon, Argentina Star informs.

Typhoon Conson slammed into northeast Quezon province with winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour late Tuesday and weakened into a tropical storm as it crossed rice-growing Luzon Island and buffeted the sprawling capital with strong gusts and heavy rain for about two hours, said weather forecaster Bernie de Leon.

The storm blew out of Manila before dawn Wednesday, leaving downed branches, trees and scattered trash. Winds ripped tarpaulin billboards along the main roads and blew away roofs of coastal shanties, The Associated Press reports.