INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFP/GettyImage caption
The storm is the second deadliest to hit the Philippines in 2018
More than 60 people have died after a powerful storm struck the Philippines, with locals reportedly taken by surprise by its strength.Storm
Usman hit the Bicol region southeast of capital Manila on Saturday.At least 17 people are missing and the death toll is expected to rise.One
official told AFP news agency that people did not take precautions as it was not classed as a typhoon under the government's alert
system."People were overconfident because they were on vacation mode and there was no tropical cyclone warning," Bicol civil defence
director Claudio Yucot said.Although the storm did not have strong winds, it brought heavy rains which triggered deadly landslides.The
tropical depression has destroyed infrastructure and displaced more than 40,000 people nationwide.Image copyrightAFP/GettyImage caption
Storm Usman brought heavy rains and has displaced tens of thousands of people
Tropical storms regularly
Typhoon Mangkhut, the strongest tropical cyclone of the year, wracked the island nation with winds of winds of 200km/h (125 mph) in
September.More than 60 people died in the typhoon, many buried in landslides in Benguet province north of Manila
The deadliest storm on record in the Philippines was Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which also sparked category four alerts.It killed more
than 7,000 people and affected millions.
