ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, March 2 (AFP) - About 1,300 people are temporarily homeless after flooding struck the southern Philippine city of Gingoog, the military said Tuesday.

Heavy rain triggerred by the La Nina weather phenomenon began falling Monday and by Tuesday morning five city districts and 10 surrounding villages were under water, said Lieutenant Michelle Anayron of the army's civil defense office here.

"We are checking if there are casualties," she added. The floodwaters destroyed a bridge and damaged several hundred houses, forcing about 1,300 people to leave their homes, Anayron said.

The southern island of Mindanao has been receiving rainfall which is way above normal this year. Thirty-nine people were killed in flooding around the Mindanao cities of Iligan and Butuan last month.

str/cgm/sm AFP

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