By DPA
Manila : At least 20 people have died and five were missing in flash floods and landslides that have hit large areas of the Philippines, the government said Friday.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council said half the victims were killed in the worst hit province of Eastern Samar, 630 km southeast of Manila.
Five more deaths were reported in the southern province of Lanao Del Norte, two in eastern Albay province, two in nearby Leyte province and one in Capiz province.
The agency said close to 400,000 people have been displaced by the floods and landslides triggered by continuous heavy rains since Feb 12.
While the rains have subsided in Eastern Samar, the downpour continued to pummel the nearby provinces of Sorsogon and Albay.
About 529 houses have been destroyed while more than 3,000 have been damaged.
Damage to agriculture, infrastructure and property was estimated at 1.13 billion pesos ($27.91 million).