Mudslides in Philippines leave 11 dead

At least 11 people died and more than 400 were evacuated as heavy rains triggered mudslides in the northern and central Philippines, officials said today.

At least eight people were killed in a landslide caused by a waterspout that dumped seawater on the central province of Negros Oriental late yesterday, a government spokeswoman said.

Four people were missing and two were injured.

A waterspout is a whirling funnel-shaped column of air full of spray which usually occur only in tropical areas.

Three more people died from electric shocks today as a result of damage caused by flooding in Rizal province south of Manila.

Water levels in parts of Taytay town, in Rizal, reached as high as 10ft, the spokeswoman said.

Tropical depression Milenyo, carrying heavy rains and winds of up 34 mph, also flooded several streets in Manila and forced authorities to close all schools for the day.

Several vehicles were abandoned in waist-deep water around the capital.

The Civil Defence Office said rising water forced 409 people to flee their homes in the central Philippines late yesterday, and the number was likely to rise as the storm moved up the archipelago.

Forecasters said the storm would be over the South China Sea by tomorrow morning.