12 dead, 7 missing in RP flashfloods

12 dead, 7 missing in RP flashfloods

MANILA (AFP): At least 12 people have been killed by
flashfloods and landslides that swept four southern Philippine
provinces after a week of torrential rain, the Office of Civil
Defense said on Monday.

About 183 villages in the provinces of Davao, Compostela
Valley, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur were flooded due to
intermittent rains that began Jan. 23, it said.

Television footage showed the water reaching the rooftop in
some areas.

More than 33,000 people have been evacuated to temporary
shelters in the four affected provinces, where disaster officials
headed by Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado visited Monday to
extend relief assistance.