Floods and landslides in the Philippines: death toll rises to 14

The death toll from landslides and floods caused by torrential rains in the southern Philippines last week has risen to 14, authorities announced on Saturday.

Rain that has lashed large areas of Mindanao, the country's second-largest island, for weeks has forced tens of thousands of people into shelters.

At least 10 people have died in recent days in the mountainous province of Davao de Oro, after very heavy rains.

“I have never experienced such heavy and continuous rain before,” Fe Maestre, a spokesperson for provincial authorities, told AFP.

Of the 10 deaths in Davao de Oro, three were recorded in the municipality of New Bataan and four other people were killed in landslides in the municipalities of Maragusan and Monkayo, the services in charge of disaster management.

Three other people drowned in separate incidents in the municipalities of Pantukan and Maco, also in Davao de Oro.

In the neighboring province of Davao del Norte, a landslide buried four people in a house in the municipality of Kapalong, Jaiasent Cabactulan, a rescue official, told AFP.

Widespread flooding in the neighboring province of Agusan del Sur has devastated villages and crops.

Provincial disaster management agency spokesperson Alexis Cabardo told local radio on Saturday that it could take five or six days for the waters to recede. “We still have to be vigilant,” he said.

The Philippines is among the nations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This phenomenon increases the risk and intensity of flooding due to extreme precipitation.

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