Philippine Death Toll from Parma Storm

Death Toll in Benguet
The Philippines death toll from Typhoon Parma rose to 193 as the bodies of more victims drowned or buried by landslides were discovered.
According to the National Disaster Coordinating Council, at least 46 people remain missing while about 102,000 are in 281 evacuation centers. They are currently focusing now on rehabilitation especially of those roads going into the mountains so that the relief teams can get inThe casualty toll will probably rise as “there are still unofficial reports that we need to validate.
Torres, NDCC spokesman said rescue and retrieval operations will probably take two weeks because many people are still missing due to landslides and flooding.
Much of the death and destruction occurred from the evening of Oct. 8, when Parma made its second pass over the main island of Luzon, causing landslides in Benguet and other provinces of the mountainous northern Cordillera region, and flooding in Pangasinan and neighboring provinces in the northwest. Damage to crops and infrastructure is now estimated at 5.1 billion pesos ($110 million).
Typhoon Parma
Rescue Efforts
About 5,000 Philippine soldiers are involved in various rescue and rehabilitation operations in Northern Luzon, Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Armed Forces public affairs chief, said today.
The U.S. military sent a C-130 aircraft and three Chinook helicopters to storm-struck areas in the north today, Brawner said. About 100 U.S. mostly Marine and Navy personnel are conducting relief and medical operations with more than 50 other American military pilots and drivers are assisting, he said.
Parma first hit northeastern Luzon on Oct. 3, ruining crops in the nation’s biggest rice-producing region. The Philippines was still reeling from Typhoon Ketsana, which flooded Manila and neighboring provinces a week earlier. The government says 337 died, 37 remain missing and 242,000 remain in evacuation centers after Ketsana, which caused 10.5 billion pesos in damage.

Moreover, Mayor Artemio Galwan of La Trinidad township in Benguet province said at least 78 bodies have been recovered there. He appealed for shovels and other tools as well as portable spotlights to allow volunteers to continue digging at night. 



Super Typhoon in the Philippines

Authorities in the Philippines have put the nation under a "state of calamity" as millions of people prepare for the arrival of a super typhoon.

With gusts of 230 kilometres an hour, Typhoon Parma is steadily approaching the main Philippines island of Luzon and is expected to make landfall some time this morning.

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo made the declaration as she ordered tens of thousands of people to be evacuated from areas in the storm's predicted path.

The Philippines was already in mourning after 300 people were killed in a typhoon last week.

In the Manila suburb of Quezon City, streets are still flooded from from the earlier storm, and local residents are trying to reinforce their homes.

Residents are stocking up on essentials, buying candles and batteries, canned food and water.

At least 70,000 people have fled their homes, but some are saying they will not leave.

Millions of people are still sheltering in makeshift evacuation centres after Typhoon Ketsana killed about 300 people last weekend.

The government in Manila warns that Super Typhoon Parma is certain to tear down houses which lie in its path.

It is likely there will be significant damage to farming land and dwellings in the slums.

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