MANILA, Oct 17 (NNN-PNA) – The Philippine government said yesterday, the death toll from the severe tropical storm Kompasu climbed to 22, with another 16 reportedly missing.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said, the death toll could further rise to 39, adding, it is verifying reports of 17 other deaths and one missing, from landslides and flooding in the northern Philippine regions and Palawan, located off Luzon.
The tropical storm, which quitted the Philippines on Tuesday, triggered flash floods and landslides. Nearly 2,000 people were evacuated to safety.
The northern Philippine regions were the hardest-hit, the agency said. Damage to agriculture there was estimated at more than two billion pesos (roughly over 39 million U.S. dollars).
Tropical storm Kompasu, which made landfall last Monday, is the 13th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year.
Typhoons and tropical storms regularly batter the South-east Asian country, claiming hundreds of lives and causing billions of dollars in damages. Approximately 20 typhoons entre the Philippines each year.– NNN-PNA
