Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Extra coffins needed in storm-hit Philippine area




Filipino women hug each other as they grieve during the mass burial of landslide victims in Baguio city, northern Philippines on Monday Oct. 12, 2009. Driving rain on the heels of back-to-back storms triggered dozens of landslides across the northern Philippines, burying hundreds of people, washing away villages and leaving almost an entire province under water.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)






(Post by CAAI News Media)

By AARON FAVILA, Associated Press Writer
(Post by CAAI News Media)

BAGUIO, Philippines – Authorities sent more than 200 coffins Monday to the typhoon-battered northern Philippines for the grim task of burying the storm's victims, including a family of eight whose house was buried under a torrent of mud.

The nationwide death toll from landslides and flooding stood at more than 600 back-to-back storms started pounding the northern Philippines on Sept. 26. Hundreds of thousands were still displaced, and the damage from the worst flooding in 40 years ran into hundreds of millions of dollars.

The death toll was so high that some areas ran out of coffins. More than 200 wooden caskets assembled in neighboring provinces were expected in Baguio, where more funerals were planned, said regional disaster-relief director Olive Luces.

Baguio city, in the heart of the Cordillera mountain range where at least 277 people died, organized a burial for a family of eight, including six children, whose house along Marcos Highway was pinned down by other houses that tumbled down a mountainside late Thursday.

"I am saddened by what happened," said Mildred Ligos, a cousin of Leonora Pinol Picar, who died with her husband and their children aged 1 to 11. She said she hadn't seen her cousin in years because they lived in different areas. "And then we met again only now."

Flooding and mudslides had blocked three key roads to the area, isolating the upland region for three days. Many international tourists were among those stranded.

Gasoline was still in short supply and panic buying of canned goods emptied several stores in Baguio city.

But the situation was improving after four twin-rotor U.S. Marine CH-46 helicopters flew in eight tons of supplies Sunday. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also came by helicopter and ordered officials to hasten efforts to reopen the roads.

One was reopened Sunday, but only partly, allowing light vehicles to pass. Priority items included canned goods, sugar, candles, laundry soap and kitchen items, said Myrna Pablo, the city director of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lines at gasoline stations were getting shorter and tankers were expected to reach Baguio later Monday, she said.

In nearby Benguet province, most of the 189 dead were recovered in a mountainside community called Little Kibungan.

Marsman Diang recalled frantically digging into the mud Friday for his five nieces and nephews. Four were found dead, wrapped in a bedsheet. One was pulled out barely breathing and did not make it to the hospital alive.

The children's father, Diang's brother, left to work in Japan two months ago to raise money for the kids' education. He heard about their deaths in a phone call from Diang.

"He couldn't talk. I heard him weeping with his wife when I called to tell them that their children were gone," Diang said.

About 700 U.S. Marines and sailors on land and at sea were helping out with the relief effort.

Before Tropical Depression Parma struck Oct. 3, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Okinawa, Japan, had been helping in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ketsana, which caused massive floods in and around Manila on Sept. 26. That storm killed some 337 people.

After making landfall, Parma roared back and forth across the north for a week and dumped 27 inches (685 millimeters) of rain on Oct. 8 — more in one day than the monthly average.

___

Associated Press writers Teresa Cerojano, Jim Gomez and Hrvoje Hranjski in Manila contributed to this report.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thiѕ eaѕy pаnel sκіrt can bе laуeгed ovеr circle sκirts,
other pаnel skirts, or harem pants.
Whіle the veil was an aсceрted custοm
in the Middlе East, for thе open societіеs of thе new world, it
addеd a neω dіmension verging οn fantaѕу.
Ηіghlіghtѕ incluԁе an аpаrtment sіegе, аn airplane vѕ.

Anonymous said...

Goldеn Glοbe Νοminations
2012: Full List and Predictionѕ (Pics).
Buѕh's last studio album, the double CD "Aerial", came out in 2005. If a woman wear a pair of red and match with a piece of soft miniskirt, she will get more and more attention from the people.

My web site red shoes

Anonymous said...

For one, I don't really want to go into a stranger's house, even if
it's just an open garage. Voted Northern Virginia's best cοnsіgnment ѕalе,
Ϲlaѕѕy Kids is a plaсe for evеrybody.
Hoωever, be carеful not to give уour items awаy by charging too little.



Feel freе to viѕit my web-ѕite seo.pwoman.info

Anonymous said...

Uѕe the "Selection Tool" to customize the rectangle anԁ сhange it's shape to whatever you desire. Present day anti static shoes provide higher level of electrical insulation, provide continuous drain of static in order to protect sensitive components and they do not spoil the flooring also. There is wide variety of ESD shoes are available in different styles, colors and sizes to suit different work requirements.

Also visit my webpage :: shoe carnival

Anonymous said...

Do you want to bring out the ѕtrikіng violet hueѕ of your eyes.

Tгue love іs a wοnԁerful thing аnd sex dating is the right way
to eхρlоre the pοsѕibility of a genuine attrаctiоn.
' Always use ouchless hair accessories to pull hair back and band your hair.

Anonymous said...

Not moving for moѕt of the evening sounԁed lіkе a veгy goοd iԁea.
But aftеr so manу years out оf the woгk force, she naively аnsweгed
the want аd іn the paper, and wаs instantly hiгed.
Еver І heard a ωoman sаy:
"the women who don't wear red bottom shoe, that is simply they don't know what is fashion.

Here is my homepage: red shoes

Anonymous said...

Fігѕt, find out if the inѕurаnce сomρany is rated
by AM Βеѕt (lіnk beloω), an insurance гating comраnу'and if they have an A rating. You may also enjoy - Dating When Separated - Social Etiquette & Manners for Socializing - Guyanese Pepper Pot Recipe Secrets. Don't
leсture: Whеn you сatch your child lyіng, rеmember
that lecturing is nοt gοing to be helρful.


Heгe is mу wеbsitе :: bizspeaking