Death toll of landslides climbs to 85

MANILA, The Philippines - The death toll from landslides and devastating floods in the central Philippines triggered by a tropical depression climbed to 85, officials said on Wednesday, as rescuers reached cutoff communities.

The country's national disaster agency said in its latest report that at least 20 people are still missing and the death is expected to rise.

The casualties, including young children, were mostly killed when their homes collapsed in landslides after days of heavy rain in several provinces in the central Philippines, said Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the national disaster agency.