Families displaced by floods in S. Philippines reached 16,000

Over 16,000 families in southern Philippines were displaced following the flash flood caused by heavy downpour of rain over the past few days.

Philippines' National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on Thursday said this is roughly equivalent to 80,000 people from the three towns of Sultan Kudarat, Pagalungan and DAtu Montawal in Maguindanao province affected by the flash flood, while at least 804 hectares of farm crops have been destroyed.

In nearby town of Datu Salibo, local officials said their town hall and police station office were underwater.

There were no reported fatalities yet, the NDCC said, but added that it is closely monitoring the situation and preparing for mass evacuation of the affected residents if the situation worsens.

Source: Xinhua