Floods hit south Philippines; 20 dead, 13 missing

MANILA — Two days of heavy rain set off floods and landslides in the southeastern Philippines, leaving at least 20 people dead, 13 missing and thousands displaced, officials said today (Jan 13).

Most of the dead and missing came from floods and landslides that hit Compostella Valley and Davao Oriental provinces, said Major Reynaldo Balido, spokesman for the disaster-response agency.

A landslide today damaged five houses in Cagdianao municipality in Dinagat Island, off the northeastern coast of the main southern island of Mindanao, killing six residents including two boys aged two and 14, said police officer Elbert Ompoc.

Another man drowned in Agusan del Sur province’s Prosperidad township, on Mindanao, and seven others were missing, according to the civil defence regional bureau.

The flooding, triggered by rains from a low pressure area, has affected 132,000 people from 10 provinces.

Ms Liza Mazo, a regional disaster-response official, said some 10,000 people fled to safer grounds in four provinces and an island.

The same area was hit by a typhoon in December 2012, leaving nearly 2,000 people dead and missing and causing massive destruction.

Government weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said rains may persist until tomorrow or Wednesday over central provinces, including those hit by Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,100 people and left nearly 1,800 others missing on Nov 8. AP