Floods force 50,000 to flee in N. Cotabato, says gov

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — More than 50,000 people were forced to leave their homes in six North Cotabato towns on Friday evening as floodwaters rose to dangerous levels and threatened their safety, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza reported Saturday.

Mendoza said a total of 26 villages were now submerged in the towns of Carmen, Kabacan, Matalam, Mlang, President Roxas and Tulunan when rivers overflowed starting Friday evening.

Two houses in Tulunan were also buried in mud and debris during a landslide, she said.

Mendoza said the good news was that there had been no casualties reported so far.