MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- At least 25 people were killed and 15 others remain missing after heavy rainfall since Tuesday night brought flash floods in the southern region of the Philippines, officials said Wednesday.

As of Wednesday 5 p.m. local time, the City Social Services and Development Offices said the death toll stood at 25 due to the flash floods in Davao City, the Philippines' second largest city after Metro Manila, which is located in the southern island of Mindanao, GMA News reported.

Commander of the Armed Forces' 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion Major Jake Obligado made the announcement, adding that most of the fatal victims were children as young as 9 months old, while 15 others remained unaccounted for.

The heavy rainfall caused the Matina River to rise and flood the area, affecting some 12,410 families from six villages, of which 1,475 were forced to evacuate and seek temporary housing in four shelters that have been set up. Among the affected villages are Matina Crossing and Matina Pangi, where 11 people were reported dead.

Most of the fatal victims have been identified and were transported to Angel Funeral Homes, but the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration have already forecast further rainfall in the upcoming days.

Last week, the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management said around 90,000 people had been displaced in the Metropolitan area of Manila, while 15 people have been reported missing due to the harsh weather caused by tropical storm 'Falcon.'

According to the country's disaster management, flooding in the northern provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal, Albay, and the National Capital Region (NCR) had affected some 32,118 families in 132 villages. Government officials set up 23 evacuation centers in Albay, Rizal, Zambales and the NCR, where over 10,000 families have been assisted.

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