Death toll in Central Mindanao floods rises to 7

COTABATO CITY—The death toll due to floods sweeping Central Mindanao rose to seven, as two more fatalities were reported on Tuesday.

Disaster officials said Noel Hiso, 32, a militiaman from Carmen, North Cotabato, was caught by floodwaters while he was crossing the Malitubog River in Carmen, North Cotabato, about 5 p.m. on Tuesday. His body was found three hours later some 5 kilometers from where he was last seen.

The second fatality, Paulino Canja, 57, farmer, was crossing the Tuwael River in Magpet, North Cotabato, when floodwaters from the slopes of the country’s highest peak, Mt. Apo, swept him away. His body was found in a tributary of the Tuwael River two villages away from where he lived.

On Monday, five people drowned in the floods that struck Maguindanao and North Cotabato after days of torrential rains. At least two men, both farmers, have been declared missing.

Towns beside the Liguasan marshland are still under water with close to P150 million in crops and farm animals destroyed.

Pombaen Karon Kadir, regional secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, quoted initial reports as saying at least 8,000 villagers were forced to flee from floods in Barangays Pagalungan and Montawal in Maguindanao.

They have been moved to school campuses on higher ground.

Daud Lagasi, Maguindanao provincial agriculture officer, said the damages to crops and work animals may increase when all the reports reach his office.

Thirteen public elementary and high schools in Montawal and Pagalungan failed to open classes on Monday until yesterday due to floods.