20 dead, 9 missing in Philippine storm

At least 20 people have been killed and nine others missing in floods and landslides unleashed by a slow-moving storm in the northeastern Philippines.

Civil Defense Administrator Benito Ramos said Wednesday that more than 640,000 people have been affected by Tropical Storm Nock-ten. Most of them are in Albay province, which has been inundated by heavy rains since Monday.

Forecasters say the storm made landfall on Aurora province Wednesday with maximum winds of 59 miles (95 kilometers) per hour and gusts of up to 75 mph (120 kph).

Nock-ten, a Laotian word for bird, is the 10th of about 21 typhoons and storms expected to lash the Philippines this year.

First Published: Jul 27, 2011 10:42 IST