180 dead, nearly 400 missing in storm
Agence France-Presse, Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:04 pm | Saturday, December 17th, 2011
ILIGAN CITY, Philippines—Tropical storm Sendong (international codename: Washi) raked across Mindanao, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas that left 180 people dead and nearly 400 others missing, officials said Saturday.
They said 20,000 soldiers had been mobilized in a huge rescue and relief operation across the stricken north coast of the island of Mindanao, where the major ports of Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City were worst hit.
SENDONG’S TRAIL. An unidentified body lies by the roadside in Barangay (village) Tambo, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City. At least 20 others were recovered by rescuers as of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 in the village alone. JB R. Deveza/INQUIRER Mindanao
Iligan mayor Lawrence Cruz described rampaging floodwaters from swollen rivers that swamped up to a quarter of the land area of the city of 100,000.
“It’s the worst flood in the history of our city,†Cruz told GMA television. “It happened so fast, at a time when people were fast asleep.â€
The station showed dramatic pictures of a family escaping out of the window of their home in the town as the floods rose, and rescue workers in orange vests shepherding survivors to safety above chest-deep waters.
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