Some 118 villages from the provinces of Sorsogon, Aklan, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Sur, Albay and Iloilo were affected by the weekend flooding caused by a tropical depression that dumped heavy rains, the Office of Civil Defense said.

Three men drowned while another was injured when he was swept away by floodwaters but was rescued later, it said, adding that more than 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and transferred to temporary shelters.

In the provinces of Iloilo and Aklan alone, authorities said at least 52 houses have been destroyed.

Air force helicopters were dispatched to help rescue and relief operations, while the coast guard was still trying to get to reach some areas, officials said.

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