Philippines storm toll of 208

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 15

Philippines storm toll of 208

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MANILA, July 21.

Grey skies unleashed torrents of rains on the northern Philippines for the fifth consecutive day today as the death toll in the two-week long flood and storm disaster rose to 208.

The Manila Government and at least 13 Luzon provinces were on full emergency footing, attempting to provide food, shelter and medicine for tens of thousands of flood victims.

President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the seizing of all available food and private transport in Tarlac and Pangasinan—two of the worst-hit provinces—to meet the crisis.

Mr Tess Padua, spokesman for the Department of Social Welfare, said that most of th - 208 deaths recorded since July 8, had been concentrated in the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Pangasinan, north of Manila.

The Manila weather bureau said as to 8 a.m. on Friday, the city had received 46.27 inches of rain since 8 a.m. on Monday. A bureau spokesman said this included a record-break-ing 18.6 inches of rain which poured down on the city from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday. The bureau predicted even more heavy monsoon rains for the next 24 hours. Officials said that the disaster which has affected millions of persons, had resulted in the destruction of at least five major bridges and five minor bridges north of Manila and three large dikes.

In addition, floodwaters spilled over two large hydroelectric dams in the mountain province of Benguet. Four provinces—Pangusinan, Tarlac. Pampioda, and Bulacan were reported to be without electric power. Another six provinces were suffering from partial power cut-offs. The United States Government announced it had dispatched the big helicopter carrier Tripoli from Okinawa to help in rescue and relief efforts. The carrier, which carries 30 helicopters, was due to arrive at Subic on Saturday, an Embassy spokesman said. In addition, the United States Agency for International Development said that it had authorised the release of $NZ313,000 for the flood victims.

A Foreign Office spokesman said that assistance had also been offered by the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Britain, Indonesia, and Egypt. The first lady, Mrs Imelda Marcos, led the collection in the Philippines of emergency food for the victims. Mrs Marcos was reported to have collected 10 million pesos worth of goods for the

victims and another 1 million pesos in cash. The Philippine Armed Forces were on 24-hour-a-day emergency duty. Navy and Coast Guard teams with amphibian trucks and rubber boats were dispatched to the flooded areas. A number of small landing craft were being used to haul food, medicine and clothes to stricken areas. Along the rampaging Pampanga River, three small private yachts manned by Navy staff were reported engaged in relief efforts. In the greater Manila area, which was at least 90 per cent under water, the city remained virtually paralysed for the third consecutive day. Schools, shops, Government offices and other establishments were closed. Flooded streets were nearly deserted except for a few buses and other vehicles slowly trying to make their way along. Government agents were attempting to stop spiralling prices and other acts of profiteering. The hoarding of foodstuffs in some areas also was reported as a worry to the Government. The rice and corn administration said it was doing its utmost to stop the price jumps. At least two grocers in suburban Quezon City were called in- for questioning by Government agents. Thirty billion gallons of water—los times the daily water supply for the greater Manila area—fell on the metropolitan area yesterday, the weather bureau said today. The rainfall, which was measured at 18.6 inches was a record rainfall for Manila. The previous record of 15.87 inches was set on September 17, 1970, during a tropical storm.