Philippines typhoon toll expected to 'top 100'

News24
19 Sep 2018, 21:38 GMT+10

The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Mangkhut has climbed to 81 and could hit triple digits as searchers dig through a landslide where dozens are presumed dead, authorities said on Wednesday.

Mangkhut swamped farm fields in the nation's agricultural north and smashed houses when it tore through at the weekend with violent winds and heavy rains.

Since then the toll has climbed mostly due to the corpses recovered from the massive landslide in the mining town of Itogon where dozens are still believed to be buried under the mud.

"From the list I saw 59 people are still missing (at Itogon)," Ricardo Jalad, civil defence chief, told AFP. "If you add that to those already recovered it's possible the toll could top 100."

The typhoon, the most powerful to strike this year, also battered Hong Kong and killed four in China's southern province of Guangdong.

Searchers at Itogon continued their grim work on Wednesday, digging with shovels and their bare hands in the vast expanse of mud that crushed dwellings used by small-scale miners.

The area was primed for disaster before Mangkhut hit, as it came on the heels of nearly a month of continuous monsoon rains that saturated the soil of the already hazardous area.

Of the hundreds digging through the debris, many were miners themselves who were looking for friends and relatives, determined to make sure they received a proper burial.

The Philippines' deadliest storm on record is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7 350 people dead or missing across the central Philippines in November 2013.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Manila Metro.

More Information

27 ℃

Fair in Manila/Aquino

Asia Pacific

Section

Japan: PM's son resigns for holding party at official residence

TOKYO, Japan: After coming under public criticism for using Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's residence for a private party, his ...

Washington coordinates 14-country supply chain agreement

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has said that trade ministers from 14 countries have taken part in the US-led ...

China, South Korea seek to expand cooperation in chip sector

DETROIT, Michigan: Amid broader global concerns over semiconductor chip supplies, sanctions and national security, Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao said ...

Typhoon Mawar strikes Guam, much of island without power, water

GUAM: After Typhoon Mawar brought strong winds and torrential rains, large areas of the US Western Pacific territory of Guam ...

Ben Stokes write his own scripts but we will monitor his fitness: England Test coach Brendon McCullum

London [UK], June 2 (ANI): England Test coach Brendon McCullum hopes that the captain Ben Stokes will be able to ...

US-bound Chinese flights avoiding Russia's airspace Reuters

Washington is reportedly seeking to protect domestic carriers which are banned from overflying the country.Chinese airlines are avoiding Russian airspace ...

International

Section