Death toll from Philippines floods increases to 44

Manila, Dec 30 (EFE).- The death toll from floods in the Philippines has risen to 44, officials said on Friday, as rescuers look for 28 people missing after torrential rains triggered landslides across the archipelago over the weekend.

Northern Mindanao is the worst-affected region, with 24 people dead and 12 injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Another 11 died in Mindanao Island in the regions of Zamboanga (4), Davao (4) and Caraga (3), while six lost their lives in Bicol and three in Eastern Visayas.

The national emergency team said the toll could rise further as at least 28 people were still missing.

Some 15,400 people remain displaced in evacuation centers of the 509,300 affected by the floods, which damaged some 4,522 houses and destroyed more than 7,400 hectares of farmland.

The disaster marred Christmas celebrations in Asia’s most Catholic nation, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos flock from urban centers to the provinces during the holidays.

Hit by 15-20 cyclones each year, the Philippines is among the nations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. EFE

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