(UPDATE) Death toll from Phl flooding rises to 2; hundreds flee

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - Two people died, while hundreds were displaced by flooding that hit the southern Philippines, local officials said today.

A security guard of a banana plantation drowned as he tried to rescue co-workers trapped in the flooded village of Sampao in Davao del Norte province today morning, according to Sonio Sanchez, provincial disaster officer.

Flash flood destroyed homes in the towns of Talaingod and Kapalong forcing hundreds of families to flee to higher grounds.

"Flood waters are now subsiding but our rescue teams are still on alert for sudden downpour in the upper villages," Sanchez said in an interview.

In nearby Compostela Valley province, over a thousand families fled to evacuation centers as Agusan River overflowed due to torrential rains, submerging communities in Compostela and New Bataan, according to Sr. Supt. Camilo Cascolan, provincial police chief.

A farmer was killed on Tuesday after being swept away by a raging river in New Bataan, as Tropical Depression Crising approached the southern tip of the region, bringing moderate to heavy rains.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said four people were also injured and over 27,000 families displaced as the weather disturbance hit land and brought minimal damage to the region still reeling from last year's powerful Typhoon Bopha.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Crising was moving west northwest at 21 kilometers per hour, maintaining its strength of 45 kph. The state weather bureau estimated the weather disturbance to exit the Philippines by Friday morning.