People in the Philippines Need Metta

Death toll in typhoon Chan-Hom rises to 43 in the Philippines
Asia-Pacific News
May 11, 2009, 4:18 GMT

Manila - The death toll from a powerful typhoon that ravaged the northern Philippines last week rose to 43 as relief operations intensified in the stricken areas, the government said Monday.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said 13 people were missing and more than 160,000 were adversely affected when Chan-Hom pummelled more than 30 northern provinces.

The agency said damage to agriculture and infrastructure was estimated at 781.70 million pesos (16.28 million dollars) and could go up as rescuers reached areas isolated by the typhoon.

The NDCC added that power has been restored in most of the areas hit by the typhoon, although some rivers remained swollen and roads impassable.

The worst-hit provinces were Pangasinan and Ifugao, where most of the casualties were reported. At least 21 people were killed in Pangasinan, while 16 fatalities were reported in Ifugao.

Most of the fatalities drowned in swollen rivers or were buried in landslides.

Chan-Hom made landfall in the northern Philippines on May 7, toppling trees and electrical posts, damaging more than 20,000 houses and causing widespread floodings.

Chan-Hom struck just one week after typhoon Kujira slammed the eastern Philippines, killing 27 people and causing damages worth more than 9 million dollars.

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