Catanduanes placed under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — Catanduanes was declared under a state of calamity on Monday in the wake of Typhoon Nina.

Gov. Joseph Cua made the announcement on Facebook after the typhoon (international name Nock-ten) left  homes and establishments in the province severely damaged after it made its first landfall in Bato town on Sunday night.

Fierce winds and rain knocked down the island's power and communications, officials said.

Catanduanes was placed under tropical cyclone warning signal number 4 on Christmas Day, ruining celebrations as families in vulnerable areas were forced to evacute to safety.

Nina had maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 255 kph when it was in the vicinity of Catanduanes.