Manama: Philippine authorities announced on Saturday that the death toll from Tropical Storm Bualoi has risen to 11, as efforts continue to assess the damage and evacuate affected residents.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the storm struck small islands in the central Philippines on Friday, toppling trees and power lines, tearing off house roofs, and triggering floods that forced about 400,000 people to evacuate. Biliran Island was among the worst hit, where eight people died and two remain missing, while flooding continues to submerge some roads.
The Civil Defense Office in Manila reported three other deaths on Masbate and Ticao islands caused by falling trees and a collapsed wall due to strong winds.
The storm follows Typhoon Ragasa, which killed 14 people in the north of the country. Forecasts indicate Bualoi is expected to move toward Vietnam's central coast by Sunday noon.
The Philippines is struck by about 20 storms and typhoons annually, adding to the challenges faced by millions living in disaster-prone areas, amid scientific warnings of increasingly severe storms linked to climate change.