Twenty-five people died amid floods, landslides and other accidents caused by heavy rains during the holiday in the Philippines, the dpa quoted the national disaster agency as said on Wednesday. Over 390,000 people in 29 provinces were affected by the bad weather, including 81,443 residents who were forced to stay in evacuation centres, the agency said. Emergency teams were still searching for 26 people, mostly fishermen, who were unaccounted for, it added. Thirteen of the fatalities were from the southern province of Misamis Occidental, where the heavy rains caused flash floods and landslides. Most of the other fatalities drowned, while at least one suffered a heart attack after being rescued. Search, rescue and relief operations were stepped up amid improving weather, said Raymundo Ferrer, executive director of the disaster agency. "We will continue to provide food, water and other items to help the displaced families staying in the evacuation centers and in other affected areas," Ferrer said. "This will not stop until the situation improves and they are able to return to their homes," he added. The weather bureau said a low pressure area was threatening to bring more rains to the affected areas. "Flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards," it warned.
