42 dead, dozens missing in Philippines floods and landslides

Philippine search and rescue teams pulled bodies out of water and mud on Friday, raising the death toll to 42 from floods and landslides triggered by a storm, with dozens more feared buried.

The Interior Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Mindanao, Najib Sinarimbo, said 11 bodies had been recovered in Magindinho province, which was severely affected by the approaching tropical storm (Nalji).

Senarimbo added that rescue and recovery operations will be suspended temporarily in the evening and will resume on Saturday morning, as there are still fears of people trapped in mud and flood waters, especially in Datu Udin town.

"Based on the estimates on the ground, in that particular location, there are many more (buried). It could be up to 80, but we hope it won't be that much," Senarimbo said by phone.

Disaster officials said authorities had evacuated thousands from the path of storm Nalgi, which could reach Friday evening in the central province of Samar.

Sinarimbo said rainfall in Magindinho province exceeded expectations.

"There were preparations made, but unfortunately, it rained more than people expected," he said.

Pictures published by the coast guard in another southern province, Sultan Kudarat, showed rescue workers using rubber boats to rescue the stranded residents in chest-covered waters.

The Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons annually.

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