Weeks of rain leave 47 dead in Philippines

Manila: More than two weeks of heavy rain has left at least 47 people dead from flash floods and landslides in the Philippines, the government said on Saturday.

Monsoon rains have battered parts of the country since December 29, with more thunderstorms still forecast for these areas, the government weather station said.

The death toll from the rain has risen to 47 due to drownings or burial by landslides, while four more people remain missing, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Eight more people were injured by landslides, the council said in a statement, while over 18,000 people were still housed in government evacuation centres because of continued danger.

Cold air from northeast Asia coming into contact with warmer air in the tropical country helped cause the unusually heavy rains.