Rain-triggered flooding affects 200,000 people in southern Philippines

ANKARA

Massive flooding triggered by days of torrential rains has affected nearly 200,000 people in the Philippines' southern Maguindanao del Sur province, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Tuesday.

The intertropical convergence zone's constant rains flooded 11 towns in the province, according to the agency.

The affected towns have been experiencing cloudy skies, scattered rains, and thunderstorms since May 14.

The flooding has affected 192,005 people in the province, with 890 people currently staying in evacuation centers.

At least three houses have been "totally" damaged, and two roads and one bridge have been declared "not passable" for vehicles due to the flooding.

"People living near the mountain slopes and in the low-lying areas of the above-mentioned river systems and the local disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned are advised to be alert for possible flash floods,' the agency warned.

*Writing by Aamir Latif