Death toll from landslides, floods hit 28 in the Philippines

emirates7 - The death toll from landslides and floods caused by the first tropical storm to hit the Philippines this year has reached 28, with more than 20 others reported missing, officials said Tuesday.

According to the German news agency (dpa), 22 fatalities were recovered in Baybay City in Leyte province, 599 kilometres south-east of Manila, according to Marissa Miguel Cano, the city's information officer.

Cano said 27 people were also reported missing in Baybay City, where landslides buried dozens of houses and flash floods swept through the affected villages after tropical storm Megi slammed into the country on Sunday.

Three people also died in the central province of Negros Oriental, and three more in the southern provinces of Davao Oriental and Davao De Oro, the national disaster agency said, but it added that details were still being validated.

More than 22,600 people were forced to flee their homes in 17 provinces affected by Megi, locally called Agaton, which brought torrential rains.