MANILA, Philippines – United States troops on a training mission in the country lent their rubber boats Friday to help thousands of villagers escape waist-deep floodwaters that have inundated the southern island of Jolo, killing at least two people.

A week-long downpour culminated in raging flash floods that surged through the streets of Jolo’s coastal provincial capital Thursday night, sweeping away stilt houses and damaging homes, officials and residents said.

The floodwaters and sea surges reached 6 feet (1.8 meters) in some areas, the Philippine National Red Cross reported.

Days of continuous flooding and a series of landslides triggered by heavy rains have affected more than 92,000 people in Mindanao and parts of the Visayas, raising the death toll to nine, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

There have been 14 casualties with nine of them dead, one injured, and four missing, stated the report signed by NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos.

Military and police assets have already been mobilized to help in the rescue, search, and relief operations for the affected residents.

US troops stationed at Jolo airport, which remained open, joined the Philippine Marines and civilian volunteers in rubber boats to rescue some of those trapped.

Hundreds of American troops have been training Filipino soldiers who battle Muslim militants hiding in the jungles of Jolo and on nearby islands.

“The water was too deep in some areas that even our trucks could not reach these areas so we had to deploy rubber boats,” said Col.Remigio Valdez, a Philippine marine brigade commander on Jolo.

Two persons were reported dead due to drowning in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental identified as Christopher Laraga, 20; and Alger Jorge Boholano, 42; while two deaths due to drowning were also recorded in Gusan del Norte, with the victims identified as Reyam Bahan, 7; and Ricarte Ganzan, 70.

In Surigao del Norte, two persons were also to have died after they were buried alive due to a landslide in Barangay Masgad, Malimono. The victims were identified as Carlito Benocilla, 26; and Raymund Bonotan, 25.

Two more fatalities were also reported In Agusan del Sur due to drowning, identified as Ruben Ramos, 40; and Richard Ramos, one-year-old.

The NDRRMC said two fishermen, onboard a motorized pump boat from Maasin City, Southern Leyte to Bohol, are missing. They were identified as Jonathan Moreno, 33; and Albert Cutamura, 24 - both from Barangay Cabangcalan, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol.

A 62-year-old woman identified as Teresita Acion was likewise reported missing due from a flashflood caused by heavy rains in Compostela Valley province.

The NDRRMC said a total of 92,487 families or 465,550 persons were affected in 541 barangays in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands, and Sulu.

Among those affected by the rains, 47,632 people are now temporarily housed at 42 evacuation centers.

In the ARMM, heavy rains and big waves occurred along the shorelines of Jolo, Sulu, affecting five coastal barangays, namely: Walled City, Bus-Bus, Chinese Pier, Takut-Takut and Tulay. Authorities have yet to determine the exact number of families displaced in the said areas.

In Caraga, Butuan City Water District (BCWD) had to close its pressure regulatory valve (PEV) due to the water turbidity level at Taguibo River that reached over 100 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU). This resulted to a low pressure of water supply in the whole city.

In Butuan City, suspension of work in public offices was lifted on February 3, but the suspension of classes was selectively extended by the Department of Education (DepEd) in schools utilized as evacuation centers as well as those that were still flooded.

In Surigao del Sur, classes at all levels as well as work in the public and private offices has resumed aa of February 3, while in Surigao del Norte, alert level 2 was still in effect. Classes in the public elementary and high school were still suspended, while work in the government and private offices also resumed on February 3. (With a report by the Associated Press)