Death toll from South Philippine landslides, floods rises to 24

The death toll from floods and landslides caused by torrential rains in southern Philippines has climbed to 24, the Philippine disaster agency said Wednesday. Eduardo del Rosario, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said 36 others were injured while 12 were reported missing. Del Rosario said nearly 63,000 families or almost 300,000 individuals in 249 villages in 14 provinces were affected by heavy rains induced by a low pressure area currently affecting central and southern Philippines. Over 1,000 passengers were also stranded in several ports in central Philippines as the Philippine Coast Guard disallowed vessels from sailing due to bad weather. Del Rosario said the Philippine government has extended 1.7 million pesos (38,000 U.S. dollars) worth of relief goods to affected families.