2,000 flee floods in the Philippines

2,000 flee floods in the Philippines

MANILA (Reuters): About 2,000 people fled their homes in two provinces in the southern Philippines after heavy monsoon rains triggered floods and landslides, relief agencies said on Tuesday.

Six low-lying districts in Gingoog city in Misamis Oriental province were submerged in water up to 1.8 metres deep while 13 villages were isolated in seven towns in Surigao del Sur province, the Red Cross and the Civil Defense Office said.

There were no reports of casualties.

Three successive days of rains starting on Saturday caused rivers to overflow, flooding surrounding communities, officials said.

Flash floods blamed by officials on rampant illegal logging killed 39 people in Lanao del Norte province, also in the south, last week.