Tropical storm claims 12 lives in Philippines
Tropical storm claims 12 lives in Philippines
MANILA (AP): Tropical storm Xangsane whirled away from the
Philippines Sunday, leaving at least 12 people dead and 25
missing in its wake, disaster officials said on Sunday.
Over 26,600 people were evacuated from flooded villages in
southeastern portions of Luzon island, the worst-hit area. At
least 217 people were injured, many by flying tin roofs and other
debris.
The rains and strong winds had eased by Sunday, but officials
said waist-deep water was hampering relief work in some areas of
metropolitan Manila and in the provinces of Laguna and Cavite to
the south.
Most of those who died either drowned or were killed by
falling trees or collapsing walls. Among the missing were 19
fishermen who had been fishing from eight motorboats off
Borlongan on the eastern island of Samar.
Officials expected the death toll to rise as government relief
teams gained access to far-flung villages that had been isolated
by power outages, floods and impassable roads.
The storm was located 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of
Luzon on Sunday evening and was moving toward southern China with
sustained winds of 85 kph (53 mph) and gusts of 100 kph,
forecasters said.
At the height of its fury, the storm battered eastern
provinces with sustained winds of up to 110 kph, destroying
houses, toppling electric posts and trees, flooding villages and
capsizing motor boats.
More than 5,700 commuters and 200 buses, trucks and cars were
stranded after authorities temporarily halted ferry boats to
Samar and Sorsogon provinces and nearby areas.
Several international and domestic flights were either
canceled or delayed Saturday because of strong winds and poor
visibility, but most were resumed Sunday, airport officials said.
At least 15 passengers were injured on Sunday when a
Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane traveling from the United States
to Manila hit strong turbulence about 45 minutes before landing,
airport officials said.
The Airbus 340 plane suddenly lost altitude, sending some of
its 227 passengers, many of whom were not wearing seat belts,
crashing into the overhead baggage bins and ceiling, officials
said.
The 15 passengers, including some children and elderly people,
were taken to a clinic at Manila's airport for treatment of
injuries to the head, neck, feet and arms, said medical officer
Caridad Ipac-Nuas.
Some of the passengers complained of dizziness and high blood
pressure because of tension and fear, she said. Nuas quoted the
passengers as saying they were hurled to the ceiling when the
plane dropped after encountering severe turbulence.
PAL officials did not immediately provide details about the
accident or the number of crew aboard the plane. The plane had
made a stop in Honolulu after departing from the U.S. mainland.
It landed safely in Manila, airport officials said.
The victims killed by the tropical storm included a 40-year-
old man who was hit by a coconut tree in San Pablo city, south of
Manila, said Melgabal Capistrano of the National Disaster
Coordination Center.
Two more deaths were reported late on Sunday, including a
woman who was electrocuted in Bulacan province north of Manila
and a woman who was struck by a falling tree, NDCC officials
said.
Officials raised their estimate of damage to property and
crops to more than 641 million pesos ($12.5 million) after
receiving new reports.
The storm damage is expected to add to the Philippines'
economic woes, exacerbated by a political crisis over allegations
that President Joseph Estrada received large gambling payoffs
from a provincial governor. Estrada has denied the charges.
About 20 typhoons and storms batter the Philippine archipelago
annually.