MANILA, Philippines — As severe weather continues to impact Mindanao, at least four fatalities have been reported due to intense rainfall and subsequent flash floods attributed to a Low Pressure Area (LPA) and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), authorities reported.

A joint operation involving the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) commenced on Sunday, May 25, to deliver thousands of relief packages to those affected by the flooding, especially in Maguindanao del Sur.

According to OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, each of the deceased individuals hailed from different regions: one each from Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, and Cotabato.

The distribution of 2,500 'Chari Timba' relief packages was overseen by Nepomuceno alongside PCSO General Manager Mel Robles, utilizing a C130 aircraft from the Philippine Air Force based in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

The 'Chari Timba' packages comprise rice, instant noodles, canned goods, and mineral water, supplemented by a donation of 7,876 kilograms of food packs containing similar items.

The primary recipients of these relief supplies are families currently residing in evacuation centers.

Since May 14, Mindanao has experienced overcast skies coupled with heavy downpours, resulting in thunderstorms linked to the ITCZ and LPA.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has faced particularly severe flash floods, with an estimated 63,240 families or approximately 316,200 individuals impacted.

The provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Basilan bear the brunt of the disaster, with 100 barangays remaining submerged in water.

Furthermore, a state of calamity has been declared in Maguindanao del Sur as the floods have led to significant devastation across the region.

Reports indicate that as of May 21, two-thirds of the affected barangays—111 out of 121—continued to be inundated.

Data from the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (Bangsamoro-READI) highlights that 138 barangays have encountered flooding caused by the ongoing heavy rains.

In total, around 270,000 individuals have been affected by flooding in municipalities such as Ampatuan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, and several others within the province.

Additionally, the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte has reported that approximately 7,000 individuals are temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers.

The flooded areas encompass around 200,000 hectares of the Ligawasan Marsh, which functions as a catch basin for rainwater from the neighboring regions of Bukidnon and Sultan Kudarat.

Emergency response operations have been intensified in both Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, focusing on the continued distribution of relief goods to families seriously affected by the flooding.