Floods in the Philippines

In December, a combination of the Tropical Storm Sendong (Washi) and continuing rains from stalled weather systems caused a series of floods in heavily populated coastal areas in the southern part of the Philippines. Most affected were islands of the Visayas and Mindanao and particularly the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro in the province of Misamis Oriental within Mindanao.

At press time, more than 1,400 people had been reported killed, with more than 1,000 missing. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of people were displaced.

Although floodwaters have receded, destroyed bridges and blocked roads have hampered transportation, limiting essential services and increasing the risk of waterborne disease.