After Typhoon Goni lashed the Philippines over the weekend, at least 16 people died, and around 13,000 shanties and houses were damaged or swept away.

At dawn on Sunday, Super Typhoon Goni blasted into the province of Catanduanes with sustained winds of 140 mph and gusts of 174 mph.

But after making landfall, the storm weakened significantly and shifted direction to save the capital, Manila, before blowing out into the South China Sea.

Catanduanes, a more than 260,000-strong island province often hit by Pacific storms, lost power and communications because of Goni and another typhoon that hit a week earlier.

But on Monday, after disaster-response authorities flew to the devastated island with satellite phones, it managed to connect to the outside world.

Governor Joseph Cua of Catanduanes and other officials said that at least five people were drowned and four wounded in the typhoon, which caused 16 ft of storm surges.

But on Monday, after disaster-response authorities flew to the devastated island with satellite phones, it managed to connect to the outside world.

Governor Joseph Cua of Catanduanes and other officials said that at least five people were drowned and four wounded in the typhoon, which caused 16 ft of storm surges.

As the typhoon slammed into the province, about 13,000 shanties and houses were damaged or swept away, he said.

Many residents fled from their homes to safety as the typhoon approached.

Mr. Cua described the attack as "severe" and reported that frightening storm surges swamped some coastal areas.

Catanduanes representative Hector Sanchez said about 10,000 shanties were "totally washed out along the coastlines that were hit by the typhoon."

Approximately 80% of the island's electricity stations were toppled and roads connecting the province's eleven towns remained impassable to vehicles, Mr. Cua said.

On the island, an army general called for more soldiers to help distribute food packs and water to residents.

He added that the military camp had been destroyed by a typhoon and that the soldiers had been camping at the airport, which had remained open.

Food packs, drinking water, blankets, and other relief goods were to be delivered to the island province by an air force cargo plane.

The typhoon also devastated the nearby province of Albay, where boulders and mudflows from Mayon Volcano were washed down by heavy rain, engulfing about 150 houses in the town of Guinobatan in a single community.

According to Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, two residents were killed in the community and three others remain missing.