A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry.

[1] The European

Union (EU) Floods Directive defines a flood as a covering by water of land not normally
covered by water.[2] In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the
inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrology and are of
significant concern in agriculture, civil engineering and public health.

Flooding may occur as an overflow of water from water bodies, such as a river, lake, or
ocean, in which the water overtops or breaks levees, resulting in some of that water escaping
its usual boundaries,[3] or it may occur due to an accumulation of rainwater on saturated
ground in an areal flood. While the size of a lake or other body of water will vary with
seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melt, these changes in size are unlikely to be
considered significant unless they flood property or drown domestic animals.

Floods can also occur in rivers when the flow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel,
particularly at bends or meanders in the waterway. Floods often cause damage to homes and
businesses if they are in the natural flood plains of rivers. While riverine flood damage can be
eliminated by moving away from rivers and other bodies of water, people have traditionally
lived and worked by rivers because the land is usually flat and fertile and because rivers
provide easy travel and access to commerce and industry.

Some floods develop slowly, while others such as flash floods, can develop in just a few
minutes and without visible signs of rain. Additionally, floods can be local, impacting a
neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins.

As of 20 January, over 63,000 people remain displaced due to flash floods in northern
Mindanao and the Visayas from 16 January, with an estimated 48,000 people inside 115
evacuation centres. (OCHA, 23 Jan 2017)

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC),
the combined effects of the rains that have lashed starting mid-January resulted in at least
nine deaths, injured 10 people, damaged homes and swept away livelihoods, mainly in
CARAGA, Davao and Northern Mindanao regions. More than 320,000 households (1.5
million people) have been affected, with at least 1,300 houses damaged. The authorities pre-
emptively evacuated over 17,000 households (85,000 people), with 53,200 people still
remaining in evacuation centres or staying with host families. Parts of Agusan del Norte,
Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao
provinces have been declared under the state of calamity. Initial estimates indicated that the
cost of damage caused to agriculture alone is more than PHP 126 million (CHF 2.5 million).
(IFRC, 3 Feb 2017)

In January 2017, a total of 77,704 families (approximately 387,138 persons) were displaced
in Mindanao due to several days of massive flooding caused by heavy and continuous rain.
Most of the displaced -- 328,111 persons -- were able to return to their homes as of mid-
February. (Protection Cluster, 15 Feb 2017)

As of 19 February, over 30,700 people remained displaced in northeastern Mindanao (Caraga

region) by flooding triggered by a series of weather systems since 8 January. At least 2,100
people are in 18 shelters, while most are staying with relatives and friends. Local authorities
and NGOs, with support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
are providing food and other relief items. (OCHA, 20 Feb 2017)
As of 25 February, more than 30,000 people remain displaced by flooding in northeastern
Mindanao, with most staying with relatives or friends. Surigao del Norte, which was also
affected by the 10 February earthquake, still has 1,150 people displaced by flooding that are
staying in evacuation centres. Local disaster management authorities continue to monitor the
situation and provide assistance to those displaced. (OCHA, 27 Feb 2017)

Flooding in low-lying areas in Mindanao is a yearly occurrence, particularly during monsoon

season. But from January to February this year, the effects of a low pressure area and the tail-
end of a cold front brought unusually heavy rain and flooding in different parts of Mindanao
and Visayas. Over 280,000 people have been affected all over Mindanao. As of 2 March,
over 29,000 people are still displaced in Caraga region. (OCHA, 2 March 2017)

As of 12 March, over 11,000 people in Lamitan City (Basilan province) and Tambulig
municipality (Zamboanga del Sur province) are displaced by flooding. Two deaths in the
provinces of Misamis Occidental and Sarangani and one missing person in Maguindanao
province were also reported. The floods damaged 127 houses, mostly in Lamitan City. Local
disaster management authorities, with support from the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team and the Philippine Red Cross,
are providing relief items to those affected in Basilan. (OCHA, 13 March 2017)