By: Austin Fang

A couple of days ago, the Philippines were hit by heavy rainstorms and chaotic flash floods. It is estimated that 60 people are missing or buried in the menacing rocks and dirt that fell as the torrential rain poured down.

The most affected province by the storm was the Maguindanao province, with its three towns getting the most of the impact. A report from the interior minister for a five-province Muslim region near Maguindanao, Naguib Sinarimbo, said there were 42 people who died either in mudslides or from drowning in the rain.

An enormous mudslide that devastated Kusiong, one of the three most wrecked cities by the storms in the province of Maguindanao, was one of the most chaotic moments. Army Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato said that mud buried 60 houses and 12 acres (5 hectares) of land. He described the number of villagers buried in the mudslide as “overwhelming”, although he did not give an exact estimate.

“[Kusiong] was hit by torrents of rainwater with mud, rocks, and trees that washed out houses,” stated Sinarimbo. In the wake of the flooding, the heroic rescuers discovered 13 bodies, mostly children, which were dug up in the days after the flood, as he later explained.

Overall, the situation is not looking good in Kusiong. A total of 27 people have died in the village, while 67 people have died in the province of Maguindanao as a whole.

Throughout the last few days, the coast guard canceled sea travel in the areas affected by the thunderstorm. This decision was made after an abundance of flights were booked, as people looked forward to seeing their relatives on All Saints Day.

Over 158,000 people have left their homes in the hope of a place to live that is not in the direct path of the storms.