Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc across 11 provinces

Manila: Eighteen people have died, 10 were injured and 191,586 others were displaced in flash floods and landslides that were triggered by continuous rains, across 11 provinces.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said southern and central Philippines and northern Luzon experienced heavy rainfall for seven days. Many deaths were due to drowning and electrocution.

Others were caused by landslides. "We are compiling reports to be able to come up with the final figure of fatalities soon," NDCC said.

Half of 37,889 families or about 191,586 people were placed in improvised relief centres, the social welfare department said.

Evacuation

Major roads in Cagayan de Oro were underwater due to flashfloods from the mountainside and the swelling of Cagayan de Oro river, a TV report said.

A survivor, Carlos Angeles, was busy helping in rescuing domesticated animals that were abandoned by displaced families in Cagayan de Oro. Edwin Sumahan of Isla Delta, a worst hit area in Cagayan de Oro, said in an interview, "We have lost homes, properties, and several relatives who are still missing."

Many died when several fishing vessels capsized in Capiz in the central Vis-ayan region.

Several families have grown tired of being evacuated several times due to the recurrence of flash floods, but they were all confined to the evacuation centres for their safety, a social worker said. Offices, schools and commercial centres were closed; flights and sea voyages were cancelled in the affected southern provinces of Capiz, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental in central Philippines.

Other affected areas include Bicol and southern Luzon, said the disaster council.

Several parts of all affected areas remained submerged and are still suffering from power outages even after heavy rains have subsided, NDCC said.

The entire country suffered the wrath of the rains, said Pagasa, the government's weather station.