Philippine storm leaves 126 dead

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (KUNA) -- Landslides and devastating floods in the central Philippines triggered by a tropical cyclone have killed at least 126 people, officials said on Sunday.
Bicol, an eastern region with a population of 5.8 million, was the hardest hit, with more than 100 people killed in intense rains and landslides, according to civil defense officials.
Meanwhile, huge mudslides have hampered ongoing rescue operations, said national disaster agency spokesman Edgar Posadas, predicting that the death toll could rise dramatically.
Some 20 tropical cyclones hit the Southeast Asian archipelago every year, destroying crops and infrastructure, while upending human lives. (end) aab.nam