The Philippines is considered to be “the most exposed country in the world to tropical storms.”
According to Philippine officials, at least 26 people have been killed as a result of landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Kai-Tak, while thousands of Filipinos who were heading home for Christmas have reportedly been stranded.
“We have recovered the bodies,” a provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer of the central Philippine island of Biliran told AFP.
At least three #people were killed and tens of thousands were driven from their homes by floods as Tropical Storm Kai-Tak pounded the eastern #Philippines on Saturday, cutting off power and triggering landslides, officials said. #Sharjah24 pic.twitter.com/w5sn7jp0GC
The reports come a day after the storm hit the east of the Philippines — “the most exposed country in the world to tropical storms,” as described by Time magazine — cutting off power and causing landslides in the regions that had suffered from Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, leaving over 7,000 dead or missing.
Tropical Storm Urduja will continue to unleash life-threatening flooding rain and mudslides as it crosses the Philippines into Monday: https://t.co/5Te0G1lVnC pic.twitter.com/aDld8VLEcD
Many flights to and from the Philippines have been canceled due to the storm.
Tropical Storm Kai-Tak is moving over the Philippines. Many flights in and out of Cebu, Tacloban and Bacolod have been cancelled. Live map: https://t.co/wVRwPjIyvw pic.twitter.com/Z4k7te87EA
