ZAMBOANGA CITY, 30 June 2004 — At least 5 people were reported killed on Monday when flash floods, triggered by torrential rains, swept away houses in the southern province of North Cotabato, Governor Emmanuel Pi?ol said. He said the floods swelled rivers in the towns of Alamada and Libungan after continuous rains. The situation was worsened when rampaging mountain waters flowed down, sweeping houses and people and animals away. “They reported that at least five people were killed and some are still missing,” Pi?ol said. He said he requested the military to provide them two helicopters to find those missing and to rescue people trapped in villages. He blamed illegal loggers for the flashfloods. “We will identify those illegal loggers and we will file charges against them.This is their fault,” Pi?ol said.
