Death toll from Philippines storm climbs to 40

January 19, 2014

The death toll from the first storm to batter the disaster-prone Philippines this year has climbed to 40, officials said today, as forecasters warned more heavy rain was on its way.

"Lingling" -- a tropical depression -- has wreaked havoc across the southern island of Mindanao, affecting more than 580,000 people, 161,000 of whom have been displaced and moved to evacuation centres.