MANILA – Rescue teams across nine provinces within the Philippines raced on Wednesday to attempt to locate 26 people missing after weekend rains, floods and landslides which have killed no less than 25 people, in one in every of its deadliest weather events this 12 months.
The national disaster agency on Wednesday said casualties reported to date had increased to 25 from 17 the day gone by, with most deaths attributable to drowning from flash floods.
“Search and rescue operations proceed, led by the coast guard as most of them were missing fishermen,” the disaster agency’s Diego Agustin Mariano told DZMM radio.
The rain-induced floods and landslides are unlike previous disasters within the Philippines, that are typically triggered by more severe typhoons and tropical storms, of which the archipelago nation normally sees about 20 every year.
The agency also recorded greater than 300 flooded areas and 20 rain-induced landslides, which collectively have forced greater than 80,000 people to take shelter in evacuation centers. A lot of the floods have since subsided.
Local media showed images on Wednesday of individuals crammed in gymnasiums changed into evacuation centres and residents removing debris and cleansing up homes after days of heavy rains.
The state weather agency said occasional light to moderate rains will proceed in central and southern areas until Thursday.