Tropical storm Megi hits the Philippines: dozens of people are trapped under landslides

By Reuters-

At least 25 people have died in landslides and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Megi as it hit the eastern and southern coasts of the Philippines, authorities in the Southeast Asian country said.

The storm made landfall on Sunday with sustained winds of up to 40 miles per hour and gusts of up to 49 miles per hour.

Megi is the first storm this year to hit the archipelago, which sees around 20 such storms a year.

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In the eastern province of Leyte, the bodies of 22 people were recovered after being buried under a landslide, Baybay city police chief Joemen Collado told reporters.

The national disaster agency, which also said three people had died in the southern Davao region, said the fatality report had yet to be verified. 

“There were landslides in the communities and then some of the victims were swept away by the floods,” Collado said, adding that

as at least six more people are missing.

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In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a man is carried after being rescued from a landslide in the city of Baybay on Monday.AP

Footage shared by the local fire department on Monday showed rescuers walking near partially submerged homes and digging for survivors in an area hit by a landslide.

Tropical Storm Megi is expected to weaken and return to the sea on Tuesday, the state weather office said.