Typhoon Glenda raises concerns over evacuation centers in Phl: IOM

GENEVA (Xinhua) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that its teams were conducting assessments of the areas in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Rammasun (known locally as Glenda).

IOM said in a statement that a Category 3 storm earlier this week had prompted the evacuation of over 500,000 people and claimed at least 40 lives.

Initial findings from the worst affected province, Albay in Bicol, found that 42,000 houses are heavily damaged or destroyed, according to IOM, who declared it was ready to support the Philippine authorities in the construction of stronger houses once needs were confirmed.

Rammasun was the first typhoon to hit the country since the devastating super typhoon Haiyan last November.

Despite the success of the pre-emptive measures, the lack of safe evacuation centers remained a key concern, especially in the Haiyan affected region, said IOM.

IOM's Chief of Mission in the Philippines Marco Boasso said in the statement that this was just the start of the typhoon season and there may be much stronger storms to come, calling for enhanced efforts to build durable, safe evacuation centers.