Rescue operations underway on the island of Mindanao to find more than 150 people reported missing after storm struck area.
A tropical storm in the Philippines has triggered mudslides and floods killing more than 120 people with 160 others reported missing, police and disaster officials said on Saturday.
The casualties from storm Tembin, most of which occurred on Friday, were all on the main southern island of Mindanao.
A search and rescue operation is underway for more than 30 people swept away by flash floods in the fishing village of Anungan in the south-east of the island, where five bodies have already been recovered.
“The floodwaters from the mountain came down so fast and swept away people and houses,” said Bong Edding, mayor of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte province. “It’s really sad because Christmas is just a few days away, but these things happen beyond our control.”
Edding blamed years of logging in the mountains near Anungan for the tragedy, adding that he and other officials would move to halt the logging operations.
“We’re are still trying to confirm reports of a farming village buried by a mudslide,” said Ryan Cabus, an official in Tubod town.
He said power and communication lines to the area had been cut, complicating rescue efforts.
Tembin, known locally as Vinta, strengthened over the Sulu sea and picked up speed late on Saturday, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 miles (105 kph) and gusts of up to 90 mph (145 kph). It is forecast to move off toward the South China Sea on Sunday.
Emergency workers, soldiers, police and volunteers were being mobilised to search for survivors, clear debris, and restore power and communications.
More than 100 deaths were reported in various places including 64 in Tubod, El Salvador and Munai towns in Lanao del Norte province where there are 139 missing.
Floodwaters from a mountain had swept away several riverside houses and villagers.
In Zamboanga del Norte province, police said 42 people had been killed in the towns of Sibuco and Salug.
Three people were killed in Bukidnon province, while politicians in Lanao del Sur province said 18 people had drowned in floods there.
Sixty-four people were reported missing, according to a tally of reports form officials and police.
The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons every year, bringing death and destruction, usually to the poorest communities of the south-east Asian country.
A ferry sank off north-east Quezon province Thursday after being battered by fierce winds and waves, leaving at least five people dead. More than 250 passengers and crewmen were rescued.
Last week, 46 people were killed in the central Philippines when a typhoon hit. Last Christmas a powerful typhoon hit the densely populated area around Manila and in 2013 super typhoon Haiyan killed nearly 8,000 people and left 200,000 families homeless.