Storm Ketsana 40 people were still missing and 1.87 million affected

29.09.09 - Philippines - Author: asia news ia - Comments: (0)
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Thailand’s Meteorological Department on Tuesday warned residents in 18 provinces of heavy rains and flash floods as tropical storm Ketsana is expected to reach the country’s northeast region Wednesday.

Philippine

On Tuesday morning, the Philippine government confirmed a total of 240 people were dead, nearly 40 people were still missing and 1.87 million affected

following devastating floods and landslides in Luzon caused by Ketsana, Xinhua reported.

The number of deaths from Tropical Storm Ketsana increased to 140, plus 32 missing with many more expected to be confirmed as rescue workers and medical

teams continue to reach flooded areas.

The extent of the destruction, and the scale of the clean up job which remains to be carried out, became clear as residents emerged from the roofs and upper

floors of their home where some had been stranded for as long as 48 hours.

Foreign governments promised aid for he victims of the disaster and health workers hurried to anticipate outbreaks of infectious disease, as the city of 12

million people struggled to clean up the mud and water dumped by the worst storm to hit the area in a generation.

“We are concentrating on massive relief operations, [but] the system is overwhelmed, local government units are overwhelmed,” said Anthony Golez, the head of

the National Disaster Coordinating Council, “Our assets and people are spread too thinly.”