At least 25 people were killed in floods and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Megi in the Philippines.
Another 105 people were also injured and many more are missing after Storm Megi struck the country on Sunday. It swept across the country’s eastern and southern coasts with sustained winds up to 40mph, gusts up to 49mph, and caused severe flooding.
According to military, 25 bodies were retrieved by police, coast guard and army personnel following landslides that occurred in mountainous areas of Baybay city, Leyte province.
Over 100 communities were submerged by the torrential rains that poured over the weekend, particularly those close to rivers and beaches.
Colonel Noel Vestuir is an infantry brigade commander. He said, “We race against the clock to rescue those who have been affected by landslides, and save lives.”
“This terrible incident caused the unfortunate loss of life and property destruction, which we regret.”
Coast guard images showed rescuers wading through forests, chest-deep water, and carrying mud-covered survivors on stretchers.
Officials reported that nearly 200 floods were recorded in various areas of central and southern provinces this weekend. This caused around 30,000 people to be displaced. Some families were also moved to emergency shelters.
Unfortunately, the rainy season has made it difficult to search for and rescue people, leaving many villagers stranded on rooftops in flood-prone areas.
Marissa Cano, Baybay’s information officer, stated that rescuers did not move because the ground was still moving. It is dangerous.
Megi, also known as Agaton in the Philippines, was the first storm to strike the typhoon-prone archipelago this season.
Each year, the Philippines is prone to at least 20 severe storms and typhoons. These usually occur during the rainy season which begins in June. In recent years, some storms have even struck during the hot summer months.
The country, which is prone to disasters in Southeast Asia, also lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where many of the most destructive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions around the globe occur.