Manila– The death toll from landslides and floods caused by the first storm to hit the Philippines this year has risen to 224, with 147 still missing, the national disaster agency said Thursday according to the dpa.
Most of the fatalities or 202 were from Leyte province, 599 kilometres south-east of Manila, where massive landslides devastated communities in the city of Baybay and the town of Abuyog.
At least 140 people were still missing in Baybya and Abuyog, the agency said.
Twenty-two other people were killed in landslides, floods and other accidents in different affected areas, while 7 were missing, it added.
Tropical storm Megi slammed into the Philippines’ eastern coast on April 10, bringing torrential rains that triggered the landslides and floods.
More than 2 million people in 30 provinces were affected by the storm, which also forced about 207,000 residents to flee their homes and stay in evacuation centres, the disaster agency said.
Megi’s damage to agriculture, houses and public infrastructure was estimated at more than 264 million pesos ($5.2 million), the agency said.
Source: Saudi Press Agency