Death toll in Philippine landslides rises to 200 ( 2003-12-29 14:50) (Xinhua)
The death toll in landslides and floods that hit the central and southern
Philippine provinces recently rose to 200 as of late Sunday, the Philippine
government said Monday.
Fifty-seven persons were injured during the heavy landslides in the central
Visayas and the southern Mindanao on Dec. 19, while 24 remained missing, the
Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said in a statement.
Among the provinces, the Southern Leyte in the central Visayas was the worst
hit, with 154 dead, 40 injured and 20 missing, the NDCC said.
The NDCC said the landslides and flooding incidents caused 363. 09 million
pesos (6.6 million US dollars) in total damages, including 226.42 million pesos
(4.12 million dollars) to infrastructure, 133.47 million pesos (2.43 million
dollars) to agriculture.
Power and water supply in most of Southern Leyte had been restored, it added.
International communities, including China, Japan, the United States and the
United Nations, have donated funds and relief materials to the victims of the
landslides and floods, which were blamed on erosion caused by illegal logging.
Enditem nnnn
|