Philippine typhoon survivors wish for roofs and food at Christmas

Catholic faithful attend Christmas mass in their destroyed church in Alegria, Surigao del Norte province on Dec 25, 2021, more than a week after Super Typhoon Rai devastated the province. - AFP

ALGERIA (Philippines) Dec 25 (AFP): Father Ricardo Virtudazo stands in a pool of water in his typhoon-hit church in the southern Philippines delivering Christmas Day mass to dozens of devotees whose wishes this year were for new roofs, food and fine weather.

More than a week after Typhoon Rai cut a swathe through the archipelago, killing nearly 400 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless, survivors clung to family and faith after their homes -- and planned festivities -- were wiped out.