By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines

Two people died and one is missing after heavy rains and flash floods with a tropical storm hit the northern Philippines over the weekend, said the state disaster authority.

The two people died by drowning but a third person has yet to be found after being swept away by strong currents, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday.

According to the council, the deluge has affected more than 248,000 families or some 1.05 million people in 700 villages in the area, with nearly 55,000 of these individuals staying in 110 evacuation centers.

Among the thousands of evacuees are 400 detainees from the municipal jail in the town of San Mateo in the Rizal province, where a state of emergency was declared Monday after 12 of its 16 villages were inundated.

The Philippine government has spent more than P100 million ($1.88 million) in food and sleeping kit assistance to the affected families.