Manila, Dec 20: As many as 96 people were killed or are feared dead after landslides, spawned by heavy rains, hit the central Philippine island of Leyte, officials said today. Rosete Lerias, governor of southern Leyte province, said 13 people had been confirmed dead so far and another 83 were missing and feared dead after landslides hit several towns late yesterday.
Lerias said more than 250 people had been rescued from the avalanche.
Military and relief officials are in the affected areas to search for the missing, civil defense officials said.
Philippines Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said that her office had confirmed 19 dead but would not yet say how many were believed buried, noting that some of the missing may have simply fled and not reported to the authorities. Bureau Report