Floods kill 10 in central Philippines province

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - The death toll from the flash floods in the central Philippines province of Cebu has risen to ten, the provincial disaster management office said on Monday.

Eight of the fatalities were from the northern town of Carmen, one from neighboring Danao and the other one from Alcoy in Southern Cebu, according to GMA News.

Heavy rains battered the province since Saturday, submerging homes in the municipality of Carmen.

The floods damaged houses, flattened fields and uprooted trees in village of Poblacion in Carmen as the river overflowed, following raging waters from the mountain.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said the floods destroyed a total of 73 houses.

GMA News reported among the fatalities in Carmen was a grandmother and her grandchild, who were swept away by the flood. Relatives said they tried to help as the grandmother held on to her grandchild but they were both swept away.

The local government has been busy distributing relief goods among the flood victims, the disaster management office said.

The office added that it will extend P10,000 assistance to the families of those died from the floods.