Nine people are known to have died and several more are missing after heavy rain led to a series of flash floods and landslides on Mindanao Island in the Philippines. A seven year old girl was killed in a landslide at Diwalwal on the east of the island at about 7.00 am on Sunday 12 January. Three other people are still missing following the incident, and seven others were injured. Another five people was killed in a landslide at Barangay Tubaon, also on the east of the island, where a second person was killed by a flash flood. Two people are known to have died at Ngan in the east central part of the island.
Flooding at San Francisco in Agusan del Sur Province on the northeast of Mindanao. Jela Castillo.
A man was swept away by flooding on the Aciga River at Santiago on the northwest of the island, and has not yet been found. Landslides also occurred at Kapatagan on the west of the island and El Salvador on the east. Flooding has been reported at Poblacion, Mambajao, Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, Depot, Ulip, Veruela and Rosario. Over 11 000 people have been evacuated from low lying areas.
Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
See also At least two dead following landslides at mining site on Dinagat Island in the Philippines, Death toll from Typhoon Haiyan nears 4000, Three dead and two missing as Typhoon Krosa sweeps across the north of Luzon Island, At least thirteen dead as Typhoon Nari sweeps across the Philippines and Couple, baby, rescued after Philippine landslide.
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