Philippines floods and landslides leave at least 12 dead

Extreme monsoon rains have claimed at least 12 lives and left eight others missing in the Philippines, according to authorities. More than half a million individuals residing in 33 provinces have been impacted by the intensified southwest monsoon, which has been further aggravated by two tropical cyclones, as reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The agency also highlighted damage to numerous homes and infrastructure.

In the mountainous city of Baguio, located on the main island of Luzon, four people tragically perished and six others remain unaccounted for after a landslide engulfed several residences, reported the city's public information office. An estimated 150 rescuers are deployed on a rotating basis to conduct search and rescue operations, with a dozen additional landslide incidents being monitored in Baguio City due to the persistent heavy rainfall.

In response to the devastating floods that have inundated towns and major roads across the nation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government personnel to work from home, while schools in Metro Manila and more than a dozen provinces were mandated to adopt alternative learning methods.