Mother nature has hit the Philippines hard.

A typhoon ripped thought the south of the Philippines on Sunday leaving a trail of destruction in its path.

Tropical Storm Tembin strengthened into a typhoon before moving into the South China Sea. More than 120 people have been confirmed dead and another 160 are missing. This is not the first disaster that has stuck the island.

Most of the dead and missing were reported in the hard-hit provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur and on the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Intense rainfall in the mountains most likely caused landslides that blocked rainwater, said Marina Marasigan of the government’s disaster-response agency. When the naturally formed dams broke from the pressure, torrents of rainwater smashed into the villages below.

Mayor Bong Edding of Sibuco town blamed logging operations in the mountains for flash food that swept away houses with more than 30 residents. “We’re really sad that we have this news especially because our countrymen were looking to celebrate Christmas,” Marasigan told a televised news conference, according to The Associated Press.

Thousands of villagers fled to emergency shelters and more than 500 passengers remained stranded in airports and seaports after the coast guard prohibited ferries from venturing out in the rough seas and several flights were canceled Saturday.

Winds from the typhoon hit 75 mph and an inter-island ferry sank off northeastern Quezon province Thursday after being lashed by fierce winds and big waves, leaving at least five people dead. More than 250 passengers and crewmen were rescued.