Before it exits Philippines, typhoon Rai kills up to 31 people
December 18, 2021, 5:11 pm

Before it exits Philippines, typhoon Rai kills up to 31 people

Typhoon/Pixabay

The Xinhua reported that Acerns Velasco of Lapu-Lapu City in the central Philippines said in a Facebook post seven hours after Typhoon Rai slammed into the country on Thursday: "I can hear the strong wind, howling as it peels off the iron sheets of our house."

The strongest typhoon to batter the Philippines this year swelled rivers and flooded low-lying areas while cutting through towns and villages in the central Philippines and the northern Mindanao in the southern Philippines. The typhoon has killed up to 31 people.

Out of the 31 reported deaths, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said only four have been validated. The national police reported at least 19 deaths but did not provide further details.

Gusty winds from the powerful typhoon toppled over trees and power lines in the Philippines as it blew away from the archipelago on Saturday.

Water was chest-high in some places, knee-high in others. Only roofs in some flooded areas remained visible, forcing rescuers to use rubber boats and ropes to evacuate people to safer grounds.

Typhoon Rai weakenes after slamming into southern and central parts of the Philippines

In Bohol, one of the hardest-hit provinces, some residents sat on the roofs of their flooded houses as they waited for rescuers. People in the affected areas have difficulty in contacting their relatives due to the cut of telecommunication and power lines.

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap lamented that the breakdown of communications makes it difficult to make a rapid assessment of the typhoon.

Yap said the local government has moved more than 13,000 families to evacuation centers from critical areas. He added: "But throughout the night and into yesterday morning, this number has swelled as the devastation was great and all-encompassing."

Yap said on Saturday that he had signed an executive order declaring a state of calamity in the entire province "due to the severity of destruction."

Dinagat Islands Governor Kaka Bag-ao said typhoon Rai "leveled (the island province) to the ground," cutting power and communication lines. Bag-ao said: "We have lost our homes. Wall and roofs were torn and blown away like paper."

Yellow warning for wind issued in Britain as storm hits parts of the country

Public work crews of the affected areas in the central and southern Philippines have worked hard to clear the roadways of fallen trees and debris, restore the power and communication lines.

Lawmaker Francisco Matugas from Surigao del Norte said almost all of Siargao Island's population, including tourists, experienced the fierce and destructive winds, adding that the island, a famous tourist destination for surfers, was "totally devastated."

Rai made landfall on the island on Thursday afternoon. It was blowing maximum winds of 195 km per hour and with gusts of up to 240 km per hour when it slammed into Siargao Island.

Assistant Secretary Jusan Vincent Arcena of the Presidential Communications Operations Office said his hometown Siargao "is unfortunately devastated by the typhoon."

Over 10,000 new Omicron cases found in UK

Arcena added in a Facebook post: "I'm worried about their safety. I can't even contact my relatives and local government units because of the situation here and in the island."

Landslides and flash floods are common across the Philippines during the rainy season, especially when typhoons hit.

The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, mainly due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire and Pacific typhoon belt. On average, this archipelagic country experiences 20 typhoons every year, some of which are intense and destructive.

The World Bank said natural disasters have killed 33,000 Filipinos in the past thirty years, and 120 million people adversely affected.

Source: xinhua

Over 10,000 new Omicron cases found in UK Italian project that has hosted 113 refugees is to expand nationwide

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.