MANILA: The Philippine government on Thursday said tropical cyclone Ma-that battered  on the main Luzon island this week taking away the life of at least three people and injured four others.

\According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, two regions in the northern Philippines, where Ma-on made landfall on Tuesday morning, recorded fatalities, along with one in the Bicol region at the southernmost tip of Luzon.

It added that Ma-on affected nearly 50,000 people in almost 400 villages.Ma-on, the sixth tropical storm to slam the Philippines this year, left the country early on Wednesday. It was located in Southeast Asia.

The storm, which had winds with gusts up to 150 km/h and a maximum speed of 110 km/h, flooded roads, destroyed homes, and downed power and communication lines along its path.

Due to the threat posed by Ma-on, President Ferdinand Marcos had ordered the suspension of government activities and courses at all levels in Metro Manila and six other provinces on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-stricken countries globally, mainly due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and Pacific typhoon belt.

This archipelago nation averages 20 typhoons each year, some of which are strong and catastrophic.
When tropical storm Megi reached the Philippines in April, it caused landslides and flooding that resulted in 224 fatalities and 147 unaccounted-for deaths.

Texas School Shooting: Uvalde school board fires police chief

First US ambassador arrives to post in Sudan after 25-year freeze

Mexican President backs ending US immigration policy