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Twenty-one dead as troopical storm lashes the Philippines

by Jason Gutierrez
AFP
Sat May 13, 2006

MANILA - Tropical storm Chanchu continues to lash the Philippines, leaving at least 21 people dead as heavy rains triggered landslides and left parts of the country under water.

Floodwaters submerged two provinces in the central Visayas region and several villages in Leyte's Sogod town were cut off after landslides and floods damaged a bridge and vital highway.


Chanchu was tracking west-northwest towards the South China Sea and was expected to have moved on by Sunday morning, the state weather bureau said.

In the worst accident during the storm, motorboat Mae Ann 5 capsized just off the central city of Masbate Friday.

Officials are unsure how many passengers were aboard, but coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Joseph Coyme said 21 bodies had been fished out of the water.

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