Over 1,000 dead or missing in Philippine mudslides

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2006

LEGASPI, Philippines (AFP) — The Red Cross sent out an urgent plea for water, food and medicine as Philippine officials said more than 1,000 people were dead or missing after mudslides swallowed whole villages. The government's National Disaster Coordinating Centre (NDCC) in its evening report Monday confirmed 450 dead from the mudslides around Mayon volcano triggered by typhoon rains.

It listed a further 599 people as missing in the rest of the Bicol region. Executive officer Glenn Rabonza said more than one million people had been affected by the disaster, with damage to property alone estimated at about 274 million pesos (5.53 million dollars). The deadly mudslides were triggered by torrential rains from super typhoon Durian, which mixed with volcanic ash on the slopes of...