国际英语新闻:Death toll in landslides, flooding in Philippines rises to 50

MANILA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from landslides and flooding triggered by heavy rain in the Philippines has reached 50, the government disaster agency said on Sunday.

The deaths were mostly due to landslides and drowning in the Bicol region, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its latest report released on Sunday night.

The NDRRMC said 15 died in Albay province, six in Sorsogon province, 16 in Camarines Sur province, six in Camarines Norte and seven in Masbate province. At least 11 people were injured.

The agency said that at least 11 people are still missing -- seven in Albay province, one in Camarines Norte, one in Camarines Sur, and two in Sorsogon.

According to the report, widespread flooding has been reported in the northern and central Philippine provinces. More than 79,000 people in six different provinces have been affected.

Aside from strong winds and heavy rains, areas ravaged by the tropical depression experienced power outages. Several houses are buried in landslides and roads sections were impassable due to severe flooding.

The NDRRMC warned that the number of casualties may increase in the coming days.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geographical and Astronomical Services Administration earlier warned heavy rains may pour over the northern and central Philippines brought on by the tropical depression, which has already weakened into a low-pressure area after making landfall in Eastern Samar in the central Philippines on Saturday.