Heavy rains and floods kill 13 in southern Philippines

Flash rains and floods kill 13 in southern Philippines At least 23 people are missing. Floods caused by heavy rains for almost a week have hit various villages and towns in the country's island nation of Mindanao.

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Mindanao's Misamis Occidental province governor Henry Waminal said most of the province's villages and towns, including the capital Oroquieta, were submerged in floodwaters. So far, about 46,000 people have been evacuated from different areas of the island to safe places. Almost all institutes and houses of the city have been flooded. More than half of the area has been cut off. Even, the telephone-mobile phone network is not available.'

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Officials of the Philippine Meteorological Department said that a week of heavy rains flooded rivers and other water bodies in Mindanao. 13 people were killed in the areas of Clarin, Jimenez and Tudela near the city of Jinggug. Among them are small children.

Meanwhile, two fishing boats sank off the coast of Zamboanga in southern Mindanao due to stormy weather and strong waves. The boat was returning to the shore from two deep seas.

The Philippine Coast Guard said there were a total of 43 fishermen on board the two boats. 23 of them are still missing. The rest were rescued.