Storm Son-Tinh leaves 24 dead, 9 missing in Philippines

27 October 2012, 09:48 (GMT+05:00)

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The death toll in a tropical storm that battered the Philippines has reached 24 with nine still missing, a disaster relief agency said Saturday, reported dpa.

Nineteen people were also injured as Tropical Storm Son-Tinh triggered flash floods, landslides, and road and sea accidents, according to the Office of Civil Defence.

Most of the missing were fishermen who sailed despite warnings while some were passengers of boats that capsized due to stormy seas.

Twelve of the fatalities drowned in flash floods or sea accidents, while the rest were killed in landslides, electrocuted, hit by falling trees or debris or died from hypothermia.

Son-Tinh made landfall in the central Philippines on Thursday, forcing authorities to suspend ferry services that stranded more than 16,000 passengers. Domestic flights were also cancelled.

The storm battered more than 30 provinces in the central, eastern and southern Philippines, disrupting power and communication lines before blowing out on Friday.