Landslides and floods kill 13 people in the Philippines
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Heavy rains flood Cotabato leaving several dead and many displaced.
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Landslides and floods kill 13 people in the Philippines (MindaNews)
As some residents remain stranded on rooftops in the Philippines, landslides and floods have already claimed the lives of 13 people, according to information reported by officials on Friday.
Overnight, showers of rain caused flash floods in mostly rural towns surrounding waterlogged Cotabato, a city with a population of 300,000. These floods were filled with uprooted trees, rocks, and dirt.
Naguib Sinarimbo, the regional government's spokesperson and head of civil defense, told AFP that seven individuals were still unaccounted for.
Sinarimbo further noted that ten of the fatalities came from the Mindanao island village of Datu Blah Sinsuat. Three bodies were also retrieved from Datu Odin Sinsuat, a neighboring town, according to rescuers.
"The water started entering the houses before dawn. This is the first time it happened to us," Sinarimbo said.
Some residents had to be rescued by emergency crews in rubber boats from rooftops, according to Sinarimbo.
North Cotabato! Keep safe everyone 🤲🙏 pic.twitter.com/lLfsu7KKn1
— Guiana 🧕🏻 (@itsguianaesmail) October 28, 2022
Since then, the floodwaters had receded across several areas. However, about 90% of Cotabato City continues to be underwater. Additionally, it appears that more rain could be coming in a few hours, Sinarimbo explained.
(3/3) More areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have been placed under Signal No. 1 and 2 as Paeng maintained its strength pic.twitter.com/65wXPPnOls
— Disaster Information Service PH (@DisasterInfoPH) October 28, 2022
Although the precise number of those impacted was not yet known, he stated "Our focus at this time is rescue as well as setting up community kitchens for the survivors."
The Philippines is struck by 20 typhoons and storms on average every year, resulting in the death of a number of people and cattle while damaging homes, farms, highways, and bridges. However, the south is rarely affected.
Read more: When nature 'strikes back', the world floods
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