The death toll from landslides and floods in the Philippines, caused by the tropical storm megirose Thursday to at least 148, according to official figures, after the discovery of more bodies in villages covered in mud.
Many people remain missing and fears for their lives, after the storm battered the archipelago for several days and forced tens of thousands to take refuge in evacuation centers.
In the central province of Leyte, the hardest hit by Maydevastating landslides swept through farming and fishing communities, destroying homes in their wake.
Emergency personnel in Abuyog township recovered dozens of bodies from the coastal village of Pilar, destroyed by a landslide on Tuesday.
At least 42 people died in the landslides and some 150 disappeared in that municipality, he told AFP Lemuel Traya, Mayor of Abuyog. Another drowned.
more victims
Another 101 people were killed and dozens were injured in the villages around city of baybaylocal authorities indicated. A hundred are still missing.
Three people drowned on the southern island of Mindanaoand one more died in the central province of Iloilo, the national disaster agency reported in its latest update.
Bad weather and mud complicated rescue efforts in Pilarwhose ground was unstable. Rescuers were also checking the coast after some bodies were swept away by the sea current. (AFP)
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