Nearly 24,000 people were displaced in central Philippine province of Eastern Samar due to flash flood brought by torrential rains, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday.

In a statement, the department said that as of Saturday evening, 6,650 families or 29,166 persons from 33 villages were affected by the weather disturbance.

Of the total affected population, 5,580 families or 23,816 individuals were displaced and served in 14 evacuation centers.

The department noted that on Friday, Eastern Visayas experienced moderate to torrential rains due to the effect of the tail-end of a cold front.

"This weather condition caused flooding in some municipalities in Eastern Samar, particularly in the municipalities of Jipapad, Maslog, Can-avid, Taft, Arteche," the DSWD-Field Office Region VIII said.

The DSWD said it has prepositioned goods, including food packs and hygiene kits, for the displaced families.

source: Xinhua