(UPDATE) One killed, hundreds flee as floods batter Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - One person died and hundreds have fled to higher grounds as flooding spawned by torrential rains in parts of Davao city lat night, authorities said today.

The flooding started shortly after 9 p.m. on Thursday and continued up to the early hours on Friday as heavy rains pelted many parts of Davao City, said Jed Clamor, spokesperson of the Southern Mindanao regional police.

Local radio reported that floodwater in Agdao and Buhangin districts were several feet high, almost submerging houses.

"The floodwaters started to rise around 9 p.m. and was already chest-deep when we started to evacuate to a nearby gymnasium hours later," said Elena Capuyan, a resident of Ubalde village, in Agdao.

Chief Inspector Clamor told Xinhua by text message a 57-year old man identified as Gil Arsena died after being crushed by a concrete wall that collapsed due to the raging flood in Tigatto village, Buhangin district.

The police spokesperson said his office was still verifying reports about the exact number of families or individuals affected by the flooding.

On Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a thunderstorm alert for Davao City and nearby provinces of Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, warning the public against heavy rains that may cause landslides and flooding even as Typhoon Vinta was battering the extreme northern parts of the country.