Floods, landslides kill 5 in S. Philippines

Flood-triggered landslides in a southern Philippine city have already killed five people, local disaster authorities said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of families were affected by flood and a tornado triggered by heavy downpour on Monday night in the city of Koronadal in southern Philippines, said department of social welfare and development director Zorahayda Taha.

At least 500 people were forced to abandon their homes as flood waters engulfed low lying villages in the southern city of Koronadal.

Local officials declared state of calamity within the city.

"Last night, some roads were flooded and impassable," Koronadal City mayor Peter Miguel told reporters.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (Pagasa) has warned the prevailing Intertropical Convergence Zone over the western and southern Philippines would bring heavy rains and frequent thunderstorms in the near future.

Source: Xinhua