Death toll rises in storm-hit Philippines

The death toll from floods and landslides caused by a tropical storm in the Philippines has hit 101, with 66 missing, the national disaster agency said Monday.

More than half of those reported dead resided in villages located on the southern island of Mindanao, which was swamped by heavy rains set off by Nalgae.

The death toll rose after villagers fled in the wrong direction and were hit by landslides. According to officials, almost two million people have been affected by the floods in several provinces.The national disaster agency said dozens are feared missing with little hope of finding survivors.

The Philippines sees an average of 20 typhoons every year, however, Typhoons are rare in Mindanao.

"In my entire life living here, it's the first time we experienced this kind of flooding," said 55-year-old Joselito Ilano whose house was flooded by waist-high water.

She added, "I am used to flooding here but this is just the worst, I was caught by surprise."

The national disaster agency said 70 people were injured in the floods and lanslides.

Nalgae was the most destructive storm this year

More than 4,100 houses and 16,260 hectares (40,180 acres) of rice and other crops were destroyed in Philippines because of floods unleashed by Nalgae.

Domestic as well as international flights were canceled. Manila's international airport was also shut for few hours because of high-speed winds.

The Kusiong village on Mindanao island was among the hardest-hit regions. On Saturday, bulldozers were sent to the village to begin retrieval work.

Naguib Sinarimbo, the interior minister for the Bangsamoro autonomous region, said as many as 80 to 100 people, including entire families, are feared to buried under mud or drowned in floods.

In a televised meeting, Philippine's President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed disappointment over the high casualty toll.

''We should have done better,'' Marcos Jr. said.

jsi, mf/ar (AP, AFP)