Philippine Floods, Landslides: Nationwide death toll at least 39 people , 26 still missing

The Philippines National Disaster Agency confirmed Wednesday that the horrific flooding and rainfall that has struck the nation over the last few days has now claimed 39 lives, injured nine and left 26 others still missing.

Rescuers were still searching for more than two dozen other people missing after heavy downpours over the Christmas weekend caused flooding and landslides across central and southern regions.

The latest deaths happened Wednesday in Mati City in the province of Davao Oriental on Mindanao island when a landslide buried four people as they fished, the national disaster agency said.

The freak weather has been caused by a shear line - where warm and cold air pockets meet - which appears to be weakening, although more low pressure systems may bring further rain in the next 24 hours.

Most of the fatalities have been in the province of Misamis Occidental, also on Mindanao, where 16 people died from drowning or rain-induced landslides.

The Philippines is ranked among the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change, and scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer.
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