Storm slams Philippines

A typhoon blew out to sea from the Philippines on Sunday, leaving in its wake landslides and flash floods that killed more than 120 people and left 160 missing.

Most of the dead and missing from Typhoon Tembin, which packed maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and gusts of up to 90 mph, were reported in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur and on the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Intense rainfall in the mountains Saturday most likely caused landslides, said Marina Marasigan of the government’s disasterresponse agency.

Mayor Bong Edding of Sibuco town blamed logging operations in the mountains for flash foods that swept away houses and more than 30 people. Five bodies have been recovered so far in the village.

When naturally formed dams broke from the pressure, torrents of rainwater smashed into the villages below.

Marasigan asked the public to heed storm warnings and evacuation orders to avoid casualties.

“We’re really sad that we have this news, especially because our countrymen were looking to celebrate Christmas,” Marasigan said.

Thousands of villagers fled to emergency shelters and more than 500 passengers remained stranded in seaports and airports after the coast guard prohibited ferries from venturing out in the rough seas and several flights were canceled.

Earlier in the week, another tropical storm left more than 50 people dead and 31 others missing, mostly due to landslides, and damaged more than 10,000 houses.