Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Floods, landslides kill 9 in Eastern Samar, 7 missing, 140T displaced (12:32 p.m.)
MANILA - Weeklong rains have triggered landslides and floods across the eastern Philippines, leaving at least nine people dead, seven missing and tens of thousands displaced, aid officials said Wednesday.
Most of the deaths occurred from drowning in Eastern Samar province since Feb. 15, when a low pressure area dumped heavy rains that caused flash floods and cut off major roads and damaged bridges, the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and the Philippine Red Cross reported.
The government's national disaster council in Manila said the entire province was under a state of emergency to enable officials to draw emergency funds for relief operations.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone was quoted as saying about 140,000 people have been displaced and many houses were submerged.
The Red Cross said at least 23 people were injured when four rivers burst their banks.
The island of Samar, which is prone to flooding and natural disasters, is about 570 kilometers (350 miles) southeast of Manila. (AP) |
