ALBAWABA - Heavy rains triggered by Typhoon Gaemi killed at least 20 people in the northern Philippines, police said Thursday.
The vast number of casualties was caused by drownings, landslides, electrocutions, and a falling tree after rain drenched the most populous island of Luzon this week.
Meanwhile, two vessels sank and three others crashed at the shore as Taiwan and the Philippines experienced downpours and strong winds that killed dozens and wounded 200.
A tanker and a cargo ship were sunk, while three other boats ran aground when Typhoon Gaemi swept into Taiwan, releasing heavy rains and whipping the island with winds that caused considerable flooding and killed three people.
Philippines officials were trying to control an oil spill after a tanker carrying 1.4 million gallons of oil sank in Manila Bay. Taiwan's fire services said it received reports early Thursday that a cargo ship had sunk near the island's southern coast, forcing nine Myanmar crew members to escape the ship in life vests.
"They fell into the sea and were floating there," said Hsiao Huan-chang, chief of the fire department, adding that rescuers hailed a nearby Taiwanese cargo ship for help.
