Floodwaters have invaded several towns and villages on the island of Mindanao since Thursday, local official Naguib Sinarimbo said. A previous toll reported at least 13 dead.
Several residents were taken aback by the rapidly rising waters, Sinarimbo told AFP. “The water started entering the houses before dawn,” he said.
Rescuers found 16 bodies in the locality of Datu Odin Sinsuat, 10 in that of Datu Blah Sinsuat and five in Upi, according to Mr. Sinarimbo, noting that several people were saved after climbing on the roofs of their houses.
Heavy rains began late Thursday in this poor region, uprooting trees and causing major flooding in the city of Cotabato (300,000 inhabitants).
The heavy rainfall is partly due to tropical storm Nalgae approaching the country, meteorological services in Manila said.
Nalgae is heading for the northern Philippines, where civil protection evacuated some 5,000 people in anticipation of landslides and flooding after the storm landed on Saturday or Sunday.
