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Tropical Storm Tembin: Philippines rescuers seek victims Tropical Storm Tembin: Philippines rescuers seek victims
(35 minutes later)
Rescuers are searching for victims of a tropical storm in the southern Philippines, where nearly 200 people have died in mudslides and flash floods. Rescuers are searching for victims of a tropical storm in the southern Philippines which has killed some 200 people in mudslides and flash floods.
Rescue teams have yet to reach some of the affected areas on Mindanao island.Rescue teams have yet to reach some of the affected areas on Mindanao island.
Many people are missing after Storm Tembin, with winds up to 80km/h (50mph), swept through the area. About 150 people are still missing after Storm Tembin swept through the region, with another 70,000 displaced from their homes.
The towns of Tubod and Piagapo were badly hit, while the remote Dalama village was wiped out by flash floods. The rescue effort is being hampered by continuing heavy rain, power cuts and blocked roads.
The storm is now moving west towards Vietnam. In the early hours of Sunday, Tembin, known as Vinta in the Philippines, was south of the Spratly Islands, heading towards southern Vietnam. It had gathered strength, with maximum winds of 120km/h (75 mph).
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was saddened by the loss of life, adding that the UN was ready to help.United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was saddened by the loss of life, adding that the UN was ready to help.
There are fears the death toll will rise further.There are fears the death toll will rise further.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is due to visit communities affected by Storm Tembin on Sunday.Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is due to visit communities affected by Storm Tembin on Sunday.
Tembin, known as Vinta in the Philippines, started lashing Mindanao on Friday, with a state of emergency declared in some areas including the Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur regions. Police said 135 people had been killed and 72 were missing in northern Mindanao, while 47 were dead and 72 missing in the Zamboanga peninsula. Another 18 died in Lanao del Sur province.
Regional officials quoted by the Rappler website said there were 127 fatalities in Lanao del Norte, up to 50 in the Zamboanga peninsula and at least 18 in Lanao del Sur. One of the worst hit areas was the mountain village of Dalama. Footage showed houses buried in mud or engulfed in floodwaters.
Tubod police officer Gerry Parami told the AFP news agency that there had been at least 19 deaths in the town, which is in Lanao del Norte. "The flood was already close and the people were not able to get out from their homes," survivor Armando Sangcopan told local TV.
Another official told AFP that at least 10 people had died in the town of Piagapo, 10km east of Tubod. Aid workers said people had not heeded warnings to evacuate ahead of the arrival of Tembin, either because they believed the storm would not be severe or they had nowhere else to go.
A number of homes in the two towns were buried by boulders. Many victims were swept away from low-lying residential areas when the flash floods and landslides struck.
Speaking about Dalama, he said "the river rose and most of the homes were swept away. The village is no longer there".
The official added that volunteers were digging through mud to try to recover bodies in the village.
"We've sent rescuers but they're making little progress," Saripada Pacasum said.
More deaths were reported in Bukidnon, Iligan and Misamis Occidental.More deaths were reported in Bukidnon, Iligan and Misamis Occidental.
Power cuts and the loss of communications have hampered rescue efforts.
Andrew Morris, from the UN children's agency Unicef in Mindanao, said in some areas there were big risks of disease, particularly for children, and restoring clean water supplies would be a priority.Andrew Morris, from the UN children's agency Unicef in Mindanao, said in some areas there were big risks of disease, particularly for children, and restoring clean water supplies would be a priority.
"Lanao del Sur province is the poorest in the Philippines, and in the past seven months there have been around 350,000 people displaced in that province because of fighting," he told the BBC, referring to battles between government forces and Islamist militants in Marawi."Lanao del Sur province is the poorest in the Philippines, and in the past seven months there have been around 350,000 people displaced in that province because of fighting," he told the BBC, referring to battles between government forces and Islamist militants in Marawi.
Meanwhile, Richard Gordon, of the Philippines Red Cross, told the BBC: "We have already provided water and hot food.Meanwhile, Richard Gordon, of the Philippines Red Cross, told the BBC: "We have already provided water and hot food.
"And we're going to be distributing non-food items - certainly blankets, mosquito nets and certainly hygiene kits for those who are in evacuation centres so that we can alleviate the suffering of many of the folks there.""And we're going to be distributing non-food items - certainly blankets, mosquito nets and certainly hygiene kits for those who are in evacuation centres so that we can alleviate the suffering of many of the folks there."
Storm Tembin made a second landfall on Balabac island in the Palawan archipelago and is forecast to travel west, south of the Spratly Islands towards Vietnam.
A week ago, Tropical Storm Kai-Tak hit the central Philippines, killing dozens.A week ago, Tropical Storm Kai-Tak hit the central Philippines, killing dozens.
The region is still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 5,000 people and affected millions in 2013.The region is still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 5,000 people and affected millions in 2013.