Flood death toll in South reaches 4

COTABATO CITY , Philippines    – Two more villagers were killed in the flash floods that continued to ravage low-lying areas in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, bringing the death toll to four, authorities said.

Officials of the disaster coordinating councils of the two provinces said that as of Friday night, 86,392 villagers had evacuated to higher grounds as rivers criss-crossing several towns swelled.

Col. Ernesto Aradanas, commander of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, said soldiers and policemen were forced to close to vehicular traffic a flooded portion of the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

“Evacuees are now right at the middle of the dry portions of the highway in that town,” said Aradanas.

Dr. Tahir Sulaik, health secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said 15,900 people have been displaced by flash floods in Sultan Kudarat town alone.   – John Unson