The major ports of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, on the north coast of the island of Mindanao, were worst hit by tropical storm Washi.
Many of the dead were swept out to sea. Others were buried alive as mud cascaded down mountain slopes. Water levels rose three feet in less than an hour, forcing thousands to climb on to the roofs of their homes where they huddled against wind speeds reaching 55 miles per hour.
Lawrence Cruz, mayor of Iligan, said: “It’s the worst flood in the history of our city. It happened so fast, at a time when people were asleep.”
Officials said 20,000 soldiers had been mobilised in a huge rescue and relief operation to assist 100,000 people who fled their homes.
Marlyn Manos, an Iligan resident, recounted how she and her children watched in terror from their rooftop as floods washed away neighbours’ homes.
“All the small houses behind ours were destroyed, and many of my neighbours are missing,” she said.
Benito Ramos, the executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Manila, said some residents had been unprepared.
“Storms rarely hit this area and people probably became complacent even though they knew it was heading their way,” he said.
Eric Carillo, an Iligan resident, said heavy rain had started late on Friday but his family, who emerged alive from the floods, were not unduly alarmed and did not seek higher ground.
“I’ve been around for 47 years and this was the worst flooding I have ever experienced,” he added.
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