In the Philippines, Tropical Storm Nalgae claimed 72 lives

MANILA: The death toll as a result of powerful Tropical Storm Nalgae has climbed to 72 in the Philippines on Saturday, after unleashing flash floods and landslides in mainly southern parts of the country.

Officials quoted the state weather service as saying that heavy rains triggered by the approaching storm began Thursday in the southern Philippines, inundating mostly rural areas on Mindanao island.

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The tropical storm, which has maximum sustained winds of 95km (59 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 160kph (99.4 mph), made landfall in the eastern Catanduanes province early on Saturday.

That followed by landslides and flooding, with fast-moving, debris-laden waters sweeping away entire families in some areas.

According to country’s civil defence director, Rafaelito Alejandro, the death toll had risen to 72 by Saturday morning, with at least 33 people injured and 14 still missing. According to local media reports, a village in Datu Odin Sinsuat buried in the landslide, resulting in at least 50 deaths.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned on Saturday that Nalgae (known locally as Paeng) will continue to cause flooding and rain-induced landslides as it crosses the country.

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Meanwhile, Search and rescue teams pulled bodies from the water and thick mud after Nalgae triggered flooding and landslides in the south of the country on Friday.

“We are now gathering all rescue teams and will conduct a briefing before deployment,” Nasrullah Imam, disaster agency official at Maguindanao province, said on Saturday. “It’s no longer raining so this will help our search and operation.”