100 people killed in flash floods and mudslide -Philippines

Philippines, Dec 23: More than 100 people were killed in southern Philippines after mudslides and flash floods hit area. According to police and disaster officials many are missing after the floods.

The casualties, most of them caused late on Friday, were all on the main southern island of Mindanao, they said, adding three provinces were hardest hit.

Disaster officials said many residents had ignored warnings to leave coastal areas and riverbanks.

"Many people were swept to the sea as flood waters quickly rose due to the high tide," Manuel Luis Ochotorena, a disaster agency official, said. "They never heeded the warnings. They thought it was a weak storm but it dumped more rains."