Thousands evacuated after monsoon rains flood Philippines villages

Residents wade through floodwaters as they are evacuated in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro province (Philippine Coast Guard/AP)

Thousands of residents have fled flooded communities and swollen rivers in the Philippine capital Manila and its outlying provinces after days of torrential monsoon rains, which left at least one villager dead.

Officials said they struggled to open more emergency shelters in order to allow social distancing among the displaced residents and prevent evacuation camps from turning into epicentres of Covid-19 infections.