Manila: At least 31 people died on Friday and more others were missing after a strong overnight downpour flooded a number of towns in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines, a local official said.
Naguib Sinarimbo, interior and local government minister of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said 16 people were killed in Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 in Datu Blah Sinsuat, and five in UPI.
The causalities may rise further as the rescue operation was ongoing, Sinarimbo added.
Nasrullah Imam, head of the Maguindanao provincial disaster risk reduction and management office, said troops and police were deployed in place to help rescue and evacuate local residents.
Local media reported that the heavy rain was related to the tropical storm Nalgae which is expected to make landfall on Sunday on the main Luzon island.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, Nalgae is expected to strengthen into a severe tropical storm on Friday and into a typhoon by Saturday.
