Flash Floods 'Kill Up To 440' In Philippines

The number of people killed after a typhoon hit the southern Philippines has risen to 440, reports say.

Hundreds more are missing after torrential rain triggered by tropical storm Washi caused rivers to burst their banks while people slept in the Mindanao region.

Among the worst-hit cities are Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

An estimated 100,000 people have been left homeless.

Those missing include a prominent local radio broadcaster, who was swept away while trying to save his neighbours, according to the city's mayor.

Authorities said several people drowned in floodwaters on the island province of Negros Oriental, whose southern tip was nipped by the eye of the storm.

Many people managed to escape by climbing onto their roofs, while tens of thousands fled to higher ground.

"We stayed on top of our roof. All we could see were lights flashing while we made a hole on our roof to climb on," said one female survivor.

Ayi Hernandez, a former congressman, said he and his family heard a loud "swooshing sound" and water quickly rose ankle deep inside his home.

He decided to evacuate to a neighbour's two-storey house.

"It was a good thing because in less than an hour the water rose to about 11ft (3.3 metres)," he said.

The local government has declared a state of emergency in the flooded regions and sent food and water to the thousands of displaced families.

Authorities said the high casualties in Mindanao could be attributed "partly to the complacency of people because they are not in the usual path of storms".

This was despite four days of warnings by officials of the approaching weather system.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Philippines
• typhoon
• southern Philippines
• tropical storm Washi
• Cagayan de Oro
• Iligan
• floodwaters

[cutielinds10]

@nikaledesma our group donated money to St. Xavier somewhere in Mindanao (I dont know the details, just the church's name) and just wondering if they actually send the money or buy them goods and give them to whoever needs them?

[TheAav05]

@RCvolunteer1978

Illegal loggers that's it, and comments is good! :)

[jhubeJELLO]

@RCvolunteer1978 Not in these areas of the Philippines. These were flash floodings and heavy rains, so it was unexpected for the civilians who live here.

[Aussieandaproudaa]

My heart goes out to the afflicted in the Philippines, our prayers are with you as you confront this.

[nikaledesma]

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE CASH DONATIONS TO THE CITY MAYOR OR TO ANY LOCAL POLITITIAN DOWN TO BARANGAY CHAIRMANS INSTEAD GO TO EACH HOUSE DAMAGED OR AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY WILL CORRUPT THE MONEY. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVE ANY CASH DONATIONS YET REGARDING ABOUT HOUSE REHABILITATION. I WONDER WHERE IS THE VERY BIG FUND WENT DONATED BY THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT, WORLD ORGANIZATIONS AND FROM GENEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED. UPTO NOW WE HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING CASH DONATED FOR HOUSE REHABILITATION.

[RCvolunteer1978]

SORRY THIS IS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS IF the people was educated in knowing that there are ways to hold back the storm water with walls of concrete and to raise up the homes two meter up above the normal depth of the flood water in other words build two / three story building with the first floor for flood disaster use

[mixel090]

this is terrible