The death toll in the landslides triggered by six days of heavy rains in the central Philippines was expected to top 100 after 35 bodies were found with scores still missing Saturday.
Government officials said most of the people were asleep when the landslides hit the San Francisco and Liloan towns in Southern Leyte province late Friday.
Four people were injured when their houses collapsed and 83 were still missing, they said.
Disaster officials said a dozen people were also killed in landslides and flash floods triggered by the rains in the southern island of Mindanao, adjacent to Leyte island.
About 300 people were evacuated to safer areas in Southern Leyte after troops rushed to the disaster zone to rescue victims trapped under tonnes of mud and debris dumped from the nearby hills, officials said.
"This is the worst experience we have had in years," said Rosette Lerias, governor of the province.
She said bad weather, blocked roads and a power outage in the region were hampering rescue work.
Lerias said soldiers had reached only one of the two affected areas after trekking for many miles.
"We really have no idea of the magnitude of the disaster because the weather has kept us from moving and inspecting other areas," she said.
Heavy rains and strong winds had made it difficult for two military helicopters to fly to the disaster areas from a nearby airbase in Cebu island, an official said.
Lerias blamed widespread illegal logging in the nearby hills for the landslides.
Illegal logging was also blamed for flash floods that killed at least 170 people in Indonesia's Gunung Leuser national park in North Sumatra in November.
"Thank God, there was no typhoon," Lerias said, adding that a low-pressure area northeast of the island was dumping rain in the region.
The country of 82 million people is hit by 17 to 20 typhoons a year. The most destructive was Thelma, which struck in Leyte island in November 1991 and unleashed floods that killed about 5,000 people.
Leyte province was the scene of the famous sea battle between U.S. and Japanese forces during the Second World War.
Philippine Landslides Death Toll Seen Topping 100
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200 feared dead in landslides
Manila
December 21, 2003
At least 200 people were killed or are feared dead in the series of landslides which hit the central and southern Philippines over the weekend, civil defence officials said today.
They said 77 people were confirmed dead while another 123 were still missing, feared dead, where heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in the central island of Leyte and the southern island of Mindanao late on Friday.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council in its latest report said 61 bodies had been dug from under the rubble left by the landslides which were triggered by heavy rains in the towns of Liloan, San Francisco and Maasin in Leyte province.
Officials in the area said 114 villagers were missing.
The rest of the casualties were reported in the provinces of Agusan and Surigao on Mindanao.
The state utility firm was also working overtime to restore power in large parts of southern Leyte, where most of the casualties were reported.
Defence Secretary Eduardo Ermita said about 700 troops from the army's 43rd infantry battalion had been dispatched to Leyte trying to reach affected areas.
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But intermittent rain and strong winds have grounded back-up helicopters and troops were trying to reach remote areas on foot and by truck.
"The number of casualties there will surely rise as we haven't yet recovered those reported to be missing," Ermita said.
"Because of the landslides, towns are now isolated and roads are covered by mud. It is difficult to reach these areas and we are awaiting word from our military officer there. Soldiers are trying to reach some areas by foot."
He said the coast guard and navy have also been called in to reach southern Leyte "but even by outboard motors, it would be risky to travel by sea".
"With the strong waves, even the rescuers could be endangered," Ermita said.
Civil defence officials were also trying to reach southern Leyte Governor Resete Lerias, who is spearheading relief work from the ground, amid reports of more deaths in some areas still to be reached by rescuers.
"The weather is still very bad and we are trying to coordinate everything," Ermita said.
Health and social work officials were trying to bring medicines into the area, fearing that the number of corpses could spread disease, Ermita said.
The civil defence office said almost 8,000 people in Leyte and in Mindanao had been rescued and transferred to school buildings converted into evacuation centres.
Health and social work officials are "giving priority attention to helping communities attend to the dead and prevent the spread of diseases", President Gloria Arroyo said.
"At this time of agony and tragedy in the south, let all of us unite and spare no effort and expense to save lives, limbs and livelihoods among our disaster-stricken citizens," Arroyo said.
- AFP
Just got this info. Seems the death toll is rising
-justin-
Manila
December 21, 2003
At least 200 people were killed or are feared dead in the series of landslides which hit the central and southern Philippines over the weekend, civil defence officials said today.
They said 77 people were confirmed dead while another 123 were still missing, feared dead, where heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in the central island of Leyte and the southern island of Mindanao late on Friday.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council in its latest report said 61 bodies had been dug from under the rubble left by the landslides which were triggered by heavy rains in the towns of Liloan, San Francisco and Maasin in Leyte province.
Officials in the area said 114 villagers were missing.
The rest of the casualties were reported in the provinces of Agusan and Surigao on Mindanao.
The state utility firm was also working overtime to restore power in large parts of southern Leyte, where most of the casualties were reported.
Defence Secretary Eduardo Ermita said about 700 troops from the army's 43rd infantry battalion had been dispatched to Leyte trying to reach affected areas.
advertisement
advertisement
But intermittent rain and strong winds have grounded back-up helicopters and troops were trying to reach remote areas on foot and by truck.
"The number of casualties there will surely rise as we haven't yet recovered those reported to be missing," Ermita said.
"Because of the landslides, towns are now isolated and roads are covered by mud. It is difficult to reach these areas and we are awaiting word from our military officer there. Soldiers are trying to reach some areas by foot."
He said the coast guard and navy have also been called in to reach southern Leyte "but even by outboard motors, it would be risky to travel by sea".
"With the strong waves, even the rescuers could be endangered," Ermita said.
Civil defence officials were also trying to reach southern Leyte Governor Resete Lerias, who is spearheading relief work from the ground, amid reports of more deaths in some areas still to be reached by rescuers.
"The weather is still very bad and we are trying to coordinate everything," Ermita said.
Health and social work officials were trying to bring medicines into the area, fearing that the number of corpses could spread disease, Ermita said.
The civil defence office said almost 8,000 people in Leyte and in Mindanao had been rescued and transferred to school buildings converted into evacuation centres.
Health and social work officials are "giving priority attention to helping communities attend to the dead and prevent the spread of diseases", President Gloria Arroyo said.
"At this time of agony and tragedy in the south, let all of us unite and spare no effort and expense to save lives, limbs and livelihoods among our disaster-stricken citizens," Arroyo said.
- AFP
Just got this info. Seems the death toll is rising
-justin-
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