Manila (dpa) - The death toll in one of the Philippines' worst floods in 25 years has risen to 44 after 50 houses in a hilly village east of Manila collapsed due to a landslide, the defence secretary said Wednesday.
Orlando Mercado, Philippine defence secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) chairman, said rescue teams from the armed forces were still digging through ruined debris to recover dead bodies. But only two of eight confirmed dead had yet been found.
Heavy rain pounded Manila and nearby northern provinces Pangasinan, Bulacan, Rizal and La Union since August 1.
The NDCC said ten other people are still missing. Some 36 have been confirmed injured and nearly 500,000 people have been evacuated
President Joseph Estrada Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Manila and the nearby provinces of Pampanga, Rizal and Pangasinan so funds could be released for affected communities.
Estrada said he has ordered the release of 217 million pesos (5.8 million dollars) to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the immediate repair of damaged roads and bridges.
The military has dispatched helicopters,and trucks to conduct search and rescue operations in the flooded communities, where water has risen to as high as two metres.
La Mesa Dam, a major reservoir in Quezon City which supplies potable water to over 10 million Manila residents overflowed again Wednesday, causing water to overflow into a spillway and a river.
The intensity of the rain decreased Wednesday but the weather bureau warned the country to expect more rain throughout the week.
Although flood water had yet to subside in some areas, residents were trying to return to their normal routine. Trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange resumed Wednesday and banks opened. Schools remained closed, however.
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Received by NewsEdge Insight: 08/04/1999 05:43:59
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