The death toll from a massive Philippine landslide near a gold mine abruptly rose to 54 on Sunday, local officials said, AFP reported.
Landslides are a frequent hazard across much of the archipelago nation due to the mountainous terrain, heavy rainfall and widespread deforestation from mining, slash-and-burn farming and illegal logging.
Rain has pounded parts of the southern region on and off for weeks, triggering dozens of landslides and floods that have forced tens of thousands of people into emergency shelters.
Massive earthquakes have also destabilised the region in recent months.
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