Dec. 23 (UPI) — A tropical storm that brought mudslides and floods raced through southern Philippines, killing at least 75 people, officials said Saturday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported 58 people were missing as Tropical Storm Tembin — known as Vinta in the Philippines — slammed into Mindanao, the country’s second largest island, on Friday and then reached the island of Palawan, according to philstar.com.
“These numbers are still for verification, validation and confirmation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” the council said.
VOA News reported at least 133 people have been killed and dozens more have been injured.
The 22nd cyclone of the year made landfall over Cateel, Davao Oriental on Friday. It triggered floods and landslides across central Mindanao. Seven Christmas Day typhoons have struck the nation over the past 65 years, according to the Philippines’ weather agency.
One week ago, Tropical Storm Kai-Tak hit central Philippines.
In its 8 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the storm had intensified. It was 50 miles west of Balabac, Palawan, with maximum sustained winds of 62 mph and gusts up to 84 moh. It was traveling west at 14 mph and projected to reach Babac at midnight local time.
In a tropical cyclone warning, light to moderate damage to high-risk structures was forecast. Waves were forecast at 13 to 46 feet.
Police reported 12,000 people left their homes for higher ground.
