MANILA, 14 January 2009 (IRIN): Nearly 200.000 people have been displaced by severe flooding across the eastern coasts of the Philippines, according to disaster relief officials.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said the tail-end of a cold front sweeping through the eastern regions had triggered continuous heavy rains from 7 to 13 January, causing floods, landslides and tidal surges that capsised small motorised fishing boats.
Close to 38.000 families or some 191.586 people had been affected in 38 municipalities and 11 provinces from northern Luzon island to the main southern island of Mindanao.
So far, nine people have been killed, either by drowning or in landslides, while nine more are missing. Two others have been injured.
More than 50.000 US dollar in damage to agriculture and infrastructure in the western Mindanao region has been reported in the past week alone, the NDCC said, adding that more than 500 houses were damaged in the area.
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