MANILA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in flash floods caused by unrelenting rain in Palawan province in the southwestern Philippines climbed to five, local authorities said Tuesday.

Jerry Alili, chief of the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said rescuers found two bodies who went missing after floodwaters swept away their van, carrying 12 people, on Sunday night.

The bodies of three other people were found on Monday, while seven passengers had been safely rescued and are now recuperating at a local hospital, local authorities earlier said.

Palawan province recorded its heaviest 24-hour rainfall as the shear line continued to affect the area, local media reported.

"We received 341 millimeters of rain within 24 hours. That is 12 times the usual monthly allocation. All poured down in just one day," Alili said.

Due to widespread flooding, Alili said over 2,000 families were forced to evacuate and have been staying in temporary government-run shelters. Enditem

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