At least 43 dead, 6 missing in Philippines after tropical storm Megi

Manila, Apr 13 (EFE).- At least 43 people have died and six are missing in the Philippines in the wake of tropical storm Megi, authorities reported Wednesday.

In its latest report, the National Council for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction stated that almost 35,000 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters set up by the authorities.

Tropical storm Megi, called Agaton in the Philippines, entered the country’s east coast on Sunday in a northwesterly direction, causing floods and landslides in the Visayas and Mindanao island clusters, in the center and south of the country.

In total, more than 580,000 people have been affected, with more than 407 floods throughout the country, while 63 municipalities still do not have electricity.

Megi, which has now lost strength and intensity and considered a storm, is currently east of the island of Samar, where the highest number of deaths has been recorded, with 37, and where six people are missing.

In addition to Megi, the Philippines also remains alert to typhoon Malakas, which, despite the fact that it is not expected to make landfall and leave the waters of Philippine territory soon, could affect the intensity of Megi, according to the PAGASA meteorological agency.

Megi is the first major storm this year to hit the disaster-prone country, which records an average of 20 typhoons each year.

This storm, which hit the country with the most Catholics in Asia before the celebration of Holy Week, surprised the authorities, who had declared a minimum alert level before it made landfall.

In December, Typhoon Rai, the most powerful to hit the Philippines last year, left at least 409 dead; while Typhoon Haiyan, the largest to have made landfall, caused some 7,000 deaths throughout the archipelago in November 2013. EFE

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