Twenty-six persons have died with 23 missing after landslides, triggered by Tropical Storm Kai-Tak, hit eastern Philippines.
According to reports, the deaths were recorded in the province of Biliran, a day after the storm ravaged the east of the Asian nation.
The national disaster agency said Kai-Tak ragged through Samar and Leyte island on Saturday, toppling power lines in 39 towns or cities and destroying roads and bridges.
In addition, over 87,700 persons were forced out of their homes in the region with the initial death toll placed at three.
“There is a total of 26 people dead from landslides in four towns of Biliran. We have recovered the bodies,” Sofronio Dacillo, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, told AFP.
But, the agency said it could not confirm if the 26 deaths in Biliran included the initial three fatalities reported on Saturday.
Also, governor of the island province, Gerardo Espina, told ABS-CBN television that same number of persons have been killed in the area.
Similarly, he noted that 23 people were missing.
