MANILA/TAIPEI (dpa): The death toll from landslides and floods caused by heavy rains induced by Typhoon Bavi in the southern Philippines has reached 17, with nine still missing, the national disaster agency said on Saturday.
Ten of the fatalities were from a landslide in Malapatan town in the southern province of Sarangani, while two drowned in Bukidnon province. Another five people died in a landslide in Lanao del Sur province,
Four people were injured in the landslides, the agency added.
More than half a million people were affected by the bad weather, with over 11,000 people forced to flee their homes.
Bavi did not make landfall in the Philippines, but enhanced the south-west monsoon that triggered heavy rains over the affected areas.
In Taiwan, more than 1,100 domestic and international flights were cancelled on Saturday and ferry services were suspended. High-speed rail and local train services were also disrupted, with some routes operating at reduced capacity due to the bad weather conditions.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) kept its moderate sea and land typhoon warnings for Typhoon Bavi, saying the storm was expected to make its closest approach to Taiwan during the day, bringing the most intense rainfall of the system's impact.
Authorities said that Bavi's storm circle had already covered northern Taiwan and the eastern parts of the island. Taiwan has so far reported no deaths or major casualties from the typhoon. - dpa
