MANILA, The death toll from severe tropical storm Nalgae, which unleashed floods and set off landslides in several parts of the Philippines, has climbed to 72, a spokesperson for a government disaster agency said, today.

 

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson, Rafaelito Alejandro said, the bulk of the fatalities were in Maguindanao province, in the southern Philippines, with 67 deaths. He added that at least 14 people have remained missing.

 

Maguindanao is a province in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Its interior and local government minister, Naguib Sinarimbo, said, nine towns in Maguindanao were severely flooded, and most parts of Cotabato City in the BARMM were underwater for the first time in years. BARMM “raised the alert level to red” since yesterday.

 

According to local media reports, a village in Datu Odin Sinsuat, was buried in the landslide, resulting in at least 50 deaths.

 

Nalgae is the 16th cyclone to lash the Philippines this year. It slammed into Catanduanes, an island province in the Bicol region, before dawn today.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said, Nalgae was blowing winds of 95 km per hour, with gusts of up to 160 km per hour today.

 

The national weather bureau said, Nalgae was moving west-north-westward at 30 km per hour and expected to intensify further, as it moved inland. It is forecast to cross Metro Manila and its adjacent areas this afternoon through Sunday morning.

 

The bureau warned, flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.

 

Source: Nam News Network