[Boudica]

There have been some insane weather related natural disasters this month, including several tornadoes wrecking through six states in the USA. Now the Philippines has been hit by Typhoon Rai, so far with an estimated death toll of 31 people. It made contact with the country's southeastern islands on Thursday, with 120mph winds.

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There are growing concerns for the holiday island of Siargao, where the storm - also known as Typhoon Odette in the Philippines - first made landfall. Its governor said the island was "totally devastated" and estimated repair costs would be more than $400m (£302m).

And the governor of the neighbouring Dinagat islands, Arlene Bag-ao, said the region had been "levelled to the ground" by the typhoon.

"The fields and boats of our farmers and fisherfolk have been decimated," she said in a Facebook message quoted by news site Rappler. "[W]e have lost our homes. Walls and roofs were torn and blown off…. We have a dwindling supply of food and water. Electricity and telecommunications are down. This is why we urgently and humbly ask for everyone's help."

She said the damage "is reminiscent of, if not worse than, when Yolanda hit our province". More than 6,000 people died after that storm - also known as Typhoon Haiyan - hit the country in 2013.

On average about 20 storms and typhoons strike the Philippines each year.

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