Storm Megi death toll rises as hundreds of thousands displaced in Philippines

Many of the deaths came in landslides and floods caused when the storm The landslide had taken place even as pre-emptive evacuation efforts took place, Lemuel Gin K. Traya said in his post.”We had exerted all means possible to save the people of Barangay Pilar. We were able to rescue and save some wounded children, senior citizens, injured and distressed individuals. “As of today, the survivors are under medication and are well taken cared of. All evacuees on other hand are safe and under our care.” Images shared by the local fire bureau on Monday showed rescuers wading through water near partially submerged homes and digging for survivors in a landslide-hit area.Megi, which was downgraded to a tropical depression on Monday, was the first storm to hit the archipelago this year. The country experiences around 20 such storms annually.The Philippines is still reeling from the effects of super typhoon Rai, the strongest typhoon to have hit the country in 2021. Rai, known locally as Odette, claimed more than 300 lives and injured more than 500 people, CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported, citing the Philippine National Police.