- Title: PHILIPPINES: Authorities not confident of finding more survivors from landslide
- Date: 13th October 2009
- Summary: CADAVER IN A BODYBAG FLOWERS ATOP A BODYBAG WITH A SIGN IN ENGLISH THAT READS: UNIDENTIFIED MALE
- Embargoed: 28th October 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA1TJG4GGTWRHOAXAK306NK4MN
- Story Text: The Philippines turned its focus on Monday (October 12) from rescue operations to sending relief to northern provinces devastated by floods and cut off by landslides as the death toll from two typhoons in 14 days rose to more than 600.
Using shovels and their bare hands to avoid triggering more landslides, rescue teams kept up a search for bodies in the areas of northern Luzon island that remained isolated.
"We are praying that we'll be able to find the 60 bodies that are still missing as of now," said Mario Mayamis, chief of police for the Benguet province.
Names of the missing and confirmed casualties are displayed across the blackboards in a local school which serves as an evacuation centre.
Survivors along with the little belongings they could salvage squeeze into the small classrooms.
An unidentified body was in a black bodybag in another room waiting for family members to collect it.
Those that have been identified were in coffins waiting to be buried.
Soldiers are now concentrating on the bigger landslides hoping to retrieve more bodies. While the smaller landslides where relatives of Genita Bengwasan are believed to still be buried are neglected for now.
"I have lost my family. I never cared about riches; all I want is my family. What happened to us is very difficult to accept," said Bengwasan, who is still waiting for news of her husband and son.
More heavy machinery is being brought into the disaster area as roads are cleared and boulders twice the height of vans blocking winding roads through the mountainous areas are removed.
Typhoon Parma first hit the Philippines on Oct. 3 and hovered around the northern part of the main Luzon island throughout the week before weakening and moving out to sea.
The floods and mudslides came two weeks after another storm, Ketsana, inundated areas in and around Manila, killing 337 people and forcing half a million from their homes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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