Tropical Storm Urduja Leaves 3 Dead in the Philippines

Tropical storm Urduja has hit the central region of the Philippines, leaving in its trail three dead, six disappeared and 158,166 people affected, according to official sources.

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A young boy who died after being dragged by flooding is among the victims.

One of the adults died in a dirt avalanche and the other was a fisherman who died in an "accident," according to information provided by the spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Three fishermen were lost at sea and three others disappeared after a landslide. 

A total of 158,166 people have been affected and 38,846 are refugees in 141 evacuation centers, according to NDRRMC data.

The tropical storm moved at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour towards the West with sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour and wind gusts of 110 kilometers per hour. 

Urduja has also hit the eastern part of Samar, the third largest island in the Philippines, and the city of Tacloban has been placed under a state of calamity due to widespread landslides and flooding. 

Authorities have issued alerts for Samar, Northern Samar, Sorsogon, Biliran, Leyte, Aklan, northern Iloilo, Capiz, Masbate including Ticao Island, Romblon and Antique.