By DPA
Manila : At least 12 people were killed and several more missing due to floods and landslides triggered by a week of heavy rains in the eastern Philippines, relief officials said Thursday.
The impoverished province of Eastern Samar, 630 km southeast of Manila, was the worst hit, with nine people killed in the floods there.
Two more were killed in the nearby province of Leyte, while another was buried by a landslide in Albay province.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council said a total of 123,651 people had been displaced by the floods and landslides in seven eastern and central provinces.
The council said initial estimates on damages to crops, property and infrastructure amounted to about 610 billion pesos ($15 million).
The weather bureau said the heavy rains were triggered by a low-pressure system.