Tropical storm floods southern Philippines, kills at least 31 people

Heavy rainfall caused by an approaching tropical storm flooded several villages in the southern Philippines on Friday, killing at least 31 people and prompting rescue operations for the trapped residents.

Naguib Sinarimbo, interior minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in the southern island of Mindanao, said the rainfall in Maguindanao province had exceeded expectations.

Sinarimbo said rescue operations are ongoing for people who are missing, but he could not say how many. He said the weather on Friday was slightly improved after incessant rain on Thursday night.

Tropical storm Nalgae, with winds of 75kph and gusts up to 90kph is approaching the central Philippines and may cause further landfalls on Friday night or head northwest to the island of Luzon on Oct. 29.

Landslides and floods are frequent in the Philippines, due in part to the growing intensity of tropical cyclones that regularly batter the country. The Philippines sees an average of 20 typhoons a year.

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