Death toll from Philippines floods, landslides rises to 33

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Dec 2022 07:47

Rains that have driven tens of thousands of people into evacuation centers have damaged hundreds of dwellings and wiped off more than 5,000 hectares of crops.

Rescue workers help a resident affected by floods. (Reuters)

Local Police reported Thursday that one person died and three others were missing in the southern Philippines after being hit by a landslide, bringing the national death toll from recent storms to at least 33.

Authorities were still looking for more than two dozen more persons who went missing after heavy rains caused flooding and landslides across the central and southern areas over the Christmas weekend.

According to authorities, the latest tragedy occurred Wednesday in Mati City, Davao Oriental province, on Mindanao Island, when a landslide buried four persons who were fishing.

Mati City police commander Ernesto Gregore revealed as quoted as AFP that the body of a 62-year-old man has been located, and the hunt for his friends is still ongoing.

"There was a heavy downpour in the mountains. They were fishing in a river when the landslide occurred," Gregore said.

Over the weekend, the weather deteriorated as the disaster-prone nation of 110 million people prepared for a long Christmas break.

Rains that have driven tens of thousands of people into evacuation centers have damaged hundreds of dwellings and wiped off more than 5,000 hectares (12,400 acres) of crops, as per the national disaster agency.

The province of Misamis Occidental, located in Mindanao, has had the highest number of fatalities, with 15 persons killed by drowning or rain-induced landslides.

It is worth noting that the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, with scientists warning that storms are becoming more powerful as the planet warms.