Manila, May 3 (Inditop) At least 10 people were killed in landslides and floods triggered by a storm battering the eastern Philippines, the Office of Civil Defence (OCD) said Sunday.
Seven of the fatalities were buried in mud and debris when the side of a hill collapsed on a village in Magallanes town in Sorsogon province, 375 km south of Manila.
The OCD said 15 people were missing in the landslide in Magallanes. Rescuers were continuing to search for victims, but bad weather was hampering operations.
Three people were killed in floods in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Quezon, authorities said.
More than 13,000 people have been affected by the storm, while more than 4,400 passengers were stranded in seaports after the coast guard suspended all ship travel, the OCD said.
Landslides were reported in other towns of Sorsogon, while electricity was cut off in some areas affected by the storm, the OCD said.
The weather bureau said the storm strengthened overnight and was affecting at least seven provinces.
The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 65 km an hour and gusts of up to 80 km an hour. It was moving northeast slowly.