Manila (AFP) - The death toll from floods in the Philippines has risen to 25, officials said Wednesday, as more rain is expected over the worst-hit areas in the south and center of the country.

Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes as torrential rains drenched rural villages, towns and highways on Christmas Day, disrupting festivities on the Catholic country's most important holiday.

At least 13 people have died, most of them from drowning, in the province of Misamis Occidental on the southern island of Mindanao, according to the national disaster agency in its latest update on the toll.

Twenty-six people are still missing, and nine were injured.

The official Meteorological Authority stated that moderate to heavy rains are likely to fall across the central and southern regions of the country on Wednesday and Thursday, due to a low pressure area off the coast that could develop into a tropical depression.

"Flooding and landslides caused by rain are likely, especially in areas exposed or highly exposed to this type of risk," the weather office said.

The disaster agency stated that rescue efforts are underway to help people residing in the areas most affected by the floods, while more than 81,000 people have taken refuge in evacuation centers.

On Wednesday, officials will conduct aerial reconnaissance over Misamis Occidental to assess the extent of the damage.
The weather turned sour over the weekend as the disaster-prone country of 110 million people prepared for a long Christmas holiday.

The Philippines is ranked among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, while scientists have warned that storms are becoming more intense as global temperatures rise.