Typhoon strikes Philippines again, death toll rises to 388
Typhoon Durian caused flash floods and sent walls of muddy volcanic ash and red-hot boulders crashing down on several villages, according to published reports.
"The disaster covered almost every corner of this province - rampaging floods, falling trees, damaged houses," said Fernando Gonzalez, governor of worst-hit Albay province.
|
By Staci Dennis
MANILA, Philippines - Strong winds and heavy rainfall marked the arrival of Typhoon Durian, which slammed the Philippines, triggering mudslides and leaving 388 people dead and 260 missing, officials reported.
This is the fourth major typhoon, which made landfall Nov. 29, to hit the Philippines in four months. The typhoon caused flash floods and sent walls of muddy volcanic ash and red-hot boulders crashing down on several villages, according to published reports.
The mudslides swept through three villages near Mayon, which is the most active volcano in the Philippines and a heavily-visited tourist area. The death toll and missing persons account were tabulated by the National Office of Civil Defense.
Due to the extensive damage, the Filipino airforce and relief workers are unable to access the hardest-hit areas by land, sea or air.
"Most of the areas which were affected the worst are still isolated and all communications are down," said Dr. Kim Pascual, director of Operation Blessing Philippines. "We are preparing to distribute five days worth of food to 2,000 families, send medical teams, and see how we can help in the rebuilding of homes and livelihood."
Operation Blessing has already been responding to previous Typhoons Paeng and Queenie, sending food to more than 6,000 families. Additionally, medical teams drove more than 28 hours on rough road to reach isolated villages and set up areas to help the sick and injured.
Fernando Gonzalez, governor of worst-hit Albay province, said the death toll figures for Typhoon Durian included 109 people who died in mudslides on the slopes of the Mayon volcano that also injured 130.
"The disaster covered almost every corner of this province - rampaging floods, falling trees, damaged houses," Gonzalez said.
Officials reported more than 22,000 people were affected by the typhoon. Gonzalez said on a television report those numbers could reach 1.2 million people. The magnitude of the destruction is hampering relief operations. Downed power and phone lines have made communication and relief efforts measurably harder.
"Our rescue teams are overstretched rescuing people on rooftops," said Glen Rabonza, head of the national Office of Civil Defense.
Undersecretary Dr. Graciano Yumul of the Department of Science and Technology said the storm was particularly damaging because it came ashore Thursday in Catanduanes, an island province with no mountains to break the storm's momentum.
Winds reached 121 miles per hour and gusts were recorded up to 139, according to the weather bureau.
Noel Rosal, mayor of Legazpi city, the capital of Albay province, visited Padang and said three of the five communities comprising the village of 1,400 people had been "wiped out" with only the roofs of several houses jutting out of the debris.
He said the mudslide occurred Thursday afternoon as the city was lashed by Durian. His own residence was underwater that was "higher than a person" from a flash flood.
"I was almost a goner. I had to swim," Rosal said.
Jukes Nunez of the Albay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council said many communities were still flooded Friday morning.
"The request for rescue is overwhelming. The disaster managers are victims themselves," he said.
Durian is the fourth to "super typhoon" to hit the Philippines in as many months. In late September, Typhoon Xangsane left 230 people dead and missing in and around Manila. Typhoon Cimaron killed 19 people and injured 58 others last month, and earlier this month, Chebi sliced through the central Luzon region, killing one.
About 20 typhoons and tropical storms hit the Philippines each year.
- AP contributed to this report.
How You Can Help
Take part in helping Operation Blessing bring relief to typhoon victims by making an online donation today! Your gift will help bring much-needed food, water, medical supplies, livelihood assistance, and more to those caught in the midst of disaster.
|
Video: 
]