Widespread flooding and landslides set off by a tropical storm in the northeastern Philippines on Thursday left at least 24 people dead, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers,

Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes as parts of the country experienced unprecedented flooding, the authorities said.

A tropical cyclone known to Filipinos by the storm name Kristine triggered disastrous flooding throughout the northern region of the country, with more than a dozen killed and several missing.