3 drown, dozens missing in Philippines

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines, June 13 (UPI) -- Monsoon rains fueled floods, landslides and huge waves in the Philippines, and three people drowned while dozens more were missing, officials said Wednesday.

Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, told a Cotabato City-based radio station floods had struck the Mindanao provinces of Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Sarangani, as well as Cotabato City, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

In Sarangani province, Segapo Cabalinding, 59, Orlando Mata and Primo Ortega drowned after huge waves hit coastal villages in Glan town, Mayor Victor James Yap Sr. said.

Yap said the flooding prompted the evacuation of 500 families to a gymnasium and flood waters had destroyed some roads and bridges.

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez said more than 40 fishermen had been rescued by navy and Philippine coast guard operatives since Tuesday night.

In Maasim town, Mayor Arturo Lawa reported that as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, 118 fishermen were reported missing in eight coastal villages of his municipality.

Lawa said their fishing vessels had capsized Tuesday.

In Maguindanao and Cotabato City, floods displaced more than 6,000 families, mostly in Sultan Kudarat town, the Office of Civil Defense said Wednesday.

In Davao City, the Inquirer reported, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau ordered the relocation of 40 households after a landslide that killed a 1-year-old girl in Marilog Monday.