Heavy non-monsoon rains have caused flooding in the Philippines over the Christmas holidays. At least eight people have been killed in provinces, especially in the south and east of the Southeast Asian island state, the national civil protection authority announced on Monday.
19 other people were therefore missing. More than 100,000 people were affected by the rain. Nearly 450,000 residents of the affected areas had to leave their homes and were taken to evacuation centers.
The rain in the predominantly Catholic country, where Christmas is also celebrated, started on Christmas Eve. All major rivers have overflowed their banks, said Marlon Pajo, a civil defense officer in Gingoog City on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
According to civil protection, four people died in the province of Misamis Occidental alone, including a 68-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack after being rescued.
The fatalities included a one-year-old girl and a 64-year-old man who drowned in separate incidents in Camarines Sur province, about 170 miles southeast of the capital Manila. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
