MANILA, July 15, 2024 (BSS/XINHUA) - 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
Monday.

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 neighboring 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 Southeast Asian country.