Thousands fled their homes in Ozamiz city, as Christmas Day floods dampened the mainly Catholic Philippines' most important holiday. Photo: AFP/ Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine authorities say at least eight people have died after floods and heavy rains in the southern provinces, as Christmas celebrations were disrupted for thousands of residents who were forced to evacuate.
Images on social media showed rescue workers helping residents out of chest-deep flood waters caused by two days of moderate to heavy rainfall in central and southern Philippines.
In its latest bulletin, the national disaster agency reported eight casualties, of which five died from drowning, while 19 were missing. Of the eight deaths, six were in the mountainous and coastal Misamis Occidental province.
Nearly 46,000 people were sheltering in evacuation centres, data from the social welfare ministry showed on Monday.
Rescuers evacuating people from a flooded area in Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental province in the Philippines. Photo: AFP/ Philippine Coast Guard
"We need food. Our house and animals were carried away by floods," Estela Talaruc, a Misamis Occidental resident, told DZRH radio station. "Nothing was left, not even clothes."
The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7600 islands, sees an average of 20 tropical storms annually, while annual monsoon rains can cause deadly landslides and floods, and damage crops.
-Reuters