200 dead, 1,500 missing as Philippine village hit by landslide

About 200 people were believed killed and 1,500 were left missing in central Philippines Friday when an entire village was buried in a landslide, the head of the Red Cross said.

The landslide hit the village of Guinsaugon in Saint Bernard town in the southern part of Leyte island, according to the head of the Philippine Red Cross, Richard Gordon.

Initial reports said there may have been 500 houses in the village.

Civil defence officials said only four bodies had been recovered so far, but the full extent of the incident was not immediately clear because it was difficult to reach the scene.

The military said it had dispatched helicopters to the area to survey the disaster and help with rescue efforts.