MANILA, Jul 16 (NNN-PNA) – The death toll caused by massive flooding hitting Bangsamoro, in the southern Philippines, has climbed to eight, as the area continues to grapple with torrential rains, a local official said, yesterday.
Benjamin Alip, municipal disaster officer in Pagalungan of Maguindanao del Sur province, in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said in a radio interview that, a 22-year-old male from the town drowned, while rescuing his cow from floodwaters, bringing the total number of flood-related deaths to eight in Bangsamoro.
Pagalungan was among the 22 towns in Maguindanao del Sur province submerged in floodwaters, which also affected neighbouring Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Maguindanao del Norte provinces.
The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said, the flood, triggered by heavy downpours since last week, has affected over 60,000 families in five regions of the country.– NNN-PNA
