58 dead in Philippines landslides and floods

Landslides and floods killed 58 people in the Philippines, while rescuers dug out additional remains with their own hands.

Most fatalities from tropical storm Megi, the strongest to strike Southeast Asia this year, occurred in Leyte province.

Authorities verified 47 deaths and over 100 injuries after mudslides hit six towns near Baybay City over the weekend. Thirty-seven are yet un

Rescuers battled muck and unstable masses of soil and rubble to discover them.

“We are saddened by this dreadful incident that caused an unfortunate loss of lives and destruction of properties,” Army Brigade Commander Noel Vestuir, who was helping oversee the search and rescue, told The Associated Press news agency.

According to the national disaster office, three persons died in Negros Oriental province and three in Mindanao, the major southern island.

Search and rescue activities in Pilar, Leyte, continued Wednesday morning. Rescuers arrived by boat a day after a landslide swept most homes into the sea.

“We have five casualties, one unidentified,” said Abuyog cop James Mark Ruiz.

The Bureau of Fire Protection announced the rescue of 50 people on Facebook on Tuesday.

Raymark Lasco, a radio operator for Abuyog, stated “several” perished.

The military has joined the coast guard, police, and fire departments in the search and rescue operations.

“The challenge is, it’s continuing to rain and we cannot immediately clear the landslide areas,” Vestuir said.

Megi caused dozens of ports to close, stranding thousands of passengers at the start of Holy Week, the Philippines’ biggest travel time.

Megi hit four months after super typhoon Rai ravaged the nation, killing over 400 and displacing hundreds of thousands.

Scientists have long warned that as the world warms, typhoons intensify faster.

Every year, the Philippines is struck by 20 storms.

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