Manila --- Heavy rains continue to drench parts of Mindanao Friday as authorities in Sulu's Jolo placed the capital town under a state of calamity.
Radio reports reaching Manila said Mayor Husin Amin has placed Jolo under a state of calamity after coastal tornados and flashfloods whipped the area.
Torrential rains and adverse weather conditions caused by a low pressure area hovering over Southern Philippine over the past four days have rendered the capital town near the southern tip of the country heavily flooded.
Hundreds were left homeless by the calamity.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), five people, two of whom are children, have already died from the flooding that inundated large areas of the coastal town.
Amin said Jolo experienced ceaseless rains similar to that experienced in Metro Manila during typhoon Ketsana (local codename: Ondoy)in September 2008.
The floodwaters in the town were up tp three meters deep in some parts and even reached the alter of the Jolo Cathedral, Catholic priest Father Charlie Inzon of the Notre Dame of Jolo was quoted by the Bombo Radyo.
Although it had been raining over the past several days, the floodwaters suddenly rose on Thursday evening to the surprise of the residents.
"Devastating, unbelievable and people were surprised flood waters suddenly rose amid darkness," Inzon said.
Sulu Island Command commander Brigadier Romeo Tanalgo, said among the flooded villages were Asturias, Tulay, Alat and San Raymundo.
He added that the water level suddenly rose when floodwaters from the mountains reached the town.
The low pressure area hovering over Mindanao, particularly Zamboanga City also caused massive flooding along the National Highway (Cagayan de Oro-Butuan) at vicinity of
Barangays Pangpangon and Punta, Talisayan, Misamis Oriental.
The provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur also siffered from extensive flooding.
"This weather system is expected to bring scattered to widespread rains over Zamboanga provinces and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," the NDRRMC said.
The overall toll from the several days of rain reached nine people with four people still missing.
