Neglect faulted in Philippine floods

Neglect faulted in Philippine floods

BUTUAN, Philippines (Reuters): Philippines officials on Tuesday blamed years of environmental neglect for floods that killed 23 people and left a trail of devastation on southern Mindanao island.

Roaring through a center of logging activity last week, the floods swept thousands of logs down river into the sea and washed hundreds more onto the riverbanks en route.

"These floods are caused by decades of environmental degradation... years of neglect," defense secretary Orlando Mercado told reporters as he handed out rice and noodles to affected families in Butuan City, about 775 km southeast of Manila.

Mercado was visiting the Caraga region of southern Mindanao island to assess the destruction, accompanied by food supplies and a medical team headed for Butuan.