Dozens killed and Missing as thousands evacuated as typhoon strikes Philippines
Pastor Dale Morgan
Dozens killed and Missing as thousands evacuated as typhoon strikes
Philippines*
MANILA (AFP) - - Flash floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon
Fengshen have left many dead, missing and forced the evacuation of
thousands of others in the Philippines, officials said Saturday.
The Risao river in the town of Upi in southern Maguindanao province
overflowed and washed away at least five houses, army spokesman
Lieutenant Colonel Julieto Ando said.
Many people drowned while at least eight others were missing, Ando said.
A landslide buried several houses at a slum area in Cotabato city, also
in the south, killing two people, officials said.
Many farmers meanwhile were also reported missing nearby, officials said.
Roads connecting the southern cities of Cotabato and General Santos were
flooded, while a concrete bridge also collapsed, isolating some villages
and towns, Catholic-run radio station DXMS reported.
The storm forced over 200,000 people to seek temporary shelters in the
eastern Bicol region, the civil defence office said.
It also uprooted small trees, blew away tin roofs and caused power
outages in the central Visayas region.
Early on Saturday Fengshen was tracking a west-northwest direction,
packing winds of 140 kilometres (87 miles) an hour.
It was forecast to dump heavy rain over large parts of the central
Visayas region and parts of the main island of Luzon for the rest of the
day, the weather bureau said.
Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes were warned
against possible flash floods and landslide, while those in coastal
areas were told to watch out for big waves.
Officials said domestic flights going to the central Philippines have
been suspended, while inter-island ferry services were also halted.
"There have been flights cancelled," said Office of Civil Defense deputy
head Anthony Golez, advising residents to stay indoors.
"If there are untoward incidents, the armed forces are prepared to
deploy," he said, adding that up to 200,000 people were evacuated to
temporary shelters in the Bicol region as a precaution.
Government agencies were also instructed to stockpile on relief goods,
while state-run hospitals were placed on alert.
Coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said 21
inter-island ferries were barred from leaving port in the central city
of Cebu while one vessel ran aground in the central island of Samar.