Dozens killed by floods in southern Philippines

First modification: 10/29/2022 – 11:02

The floods and landslides of land caused by heavy rains are causing dozens of deaths in the southern Philippines. At least 31 people have died, as confirmed by sources from the local civil defense of the island of Mindanao on the afternoon of yesterday, Friday, in a balance that is increasing and that could worsen with the arrival of a tropical storm expected this Sunday.

Heavy rains started Thursday night in this impoverished region under Muslim self-government after decades of armed separatist rebellion. According to the meteorological services in Manila, these phenomena were largely caused by the approach of tropical storm Nalgae, located further to the northeast and which should reach the archipelago during the weekend. The state meteorological service does not rule out that it will make landfall on the island of Sámar this Friday, much earlier than expected. Nearly 5,000 people were evacuated from communities prone to flooding and landslides, the civil defense office said.

The floods affect various cities and towns on the island of Mindanao since Thursday, according to the spokesman and head of the local civil defense, Naguib Sinarimbo. “The water began to enter the houses before dawn,” he told AFP. The official specified this Friday that the rescuers recovered 16 bodies in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 in Datu Blah Sinsuat and five in the city of Upi. A previous balance reported 13 deaths. Sinarimbo reported that several people were rescued after managing to climb to the roofs of their houses. Emergency teams and military units are patrolling other areas where floods and landslides have occurred.

An average of 20 typhoons and storms hit the Philippines every year killing people and livestock and destroying farms, houses, roads and bridges, although the south is rarely affected. Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the planet warms due to climate change.