Deaths in Mindanao floods, landslides climb to 34

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from the non-stop rains due to a low pressure area in parts of Mindanao has climbed to 34, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday.

The NDRRMC also reported that the number of people injured in 19 incidents of landslides and flashfloods recorded in in regions 9, 10, 11, Caraga and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao has also increased to 65. A total of seven persons are still missing.

The number of families affected in the regions ballooned to over 97,000 or more than 463,000 individuals, the state disaster response agency added.

Of the total affected, more than 44,000 families or 212,000 persons were displaced and stayed at the 358 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said.

The NDRRMC also reported that a total of 57 roads and 21 bridges were still  impassable in regions 9, 10, 11 and Caraga.

The flashfloods and landslides in the areas also destroyed more than 1,300 houses, over 700 of which were totally damaged, the NDRRMC said.

Over 12,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed in regions 11 and Caraga, the NDRRMC added.

The national government and local government units have already poured in to the affected families more than P18 billion worth of relief goods.