More than 30 dead as Tropical Storm Nalgae approaches Philippines

Landslides and flooding have killed at least 31 people and nine others remain missing as heavy rain from the approaching Tropical Storm Nalgae lashed the southern Philippines, a disaster official said.

Torrential rainstorms unleashed flash flooding overnight that carried uprooted trees, rocks and mud into rural communities around Cotabato, a city of 300,000 people on Mindanao island.

Many residents were surprised by the rapidly rising floodwaters, Naguib Sinarimbo, civil defense chief for the regional government, said on Friday.

“The amount of rainwater that came down overnight was unusually (heavy) and flowed down mountainsides and swelled rivers,” he said, explaining that most of the victims were swept away by floodwaters and drowned, or were hit by debris-laden mudslides.

“The water started entering the houses before dawn,” Sinarimbo said, confirming that the death toll in the storm-hit areas had jumped to 31 from the earlier tally of 13.

Rescuers retrieved 16 bodies from the flood-hit town of Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 from Datu Blah Sinsuat and five from Upi town, he told reporters.

Rescuers in rubber boats were searching flooded areas around Cotabato City and emergency teams, including military units, were also checking other areas where flooding and landslides had been reported.

Agencies