Weather disasters cost $20 billion more than last year: NGO

PARIS - The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion (150 billion euros) in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday.

Each year, UK charity Christian Aid calculates the cost of weather incidents like flooding, fires and heat waves according to insurance claims and reports the results. 

In 2020, it found the world's ten costliest weather disasters caused $150 billion in damage, making this year's total an increase of 13 percent.

Christian Aid said the upward trend reflects the effects of man-made climate change and added that the ten disasters in question also killed at least 1,075 people and displaced 1.3 million.

The most expensive disaster in 2021 was hurricane Ida, which lashed the eastern United States and caused around $65 billion in damages. After crashing into Louisiana at the end of August, it made its way northward and caused extensive flooding in New York City and the surrounding area.

Spectacular and deadly flooding in Germany and Belgium in July was next on the list at $43 billion in losses.

A cold snap and winter storm in Texas that took out the vast state's power grid cost $23 billion, followed by flooding in China's Henan province in July that cost an estimated $17.6 billion.

Other disasters costing several billion dollars include flooding in Canada, a late spring freeze in France that damaged vineyards, and a cyclone in India and Bangladesh in May. 

The report acknowledged its evaluation mainly covers disasters in rich countries where infrastructure is better insured and that the financial toll of disasters on poor countries is often incalculable.

It gave the example of South Sudan where flooding affected around 800,000 people.

"Some of the most devastating extreme weather events in 2021 hit poorer nations, which have contributed little to causing climate change," the report's press release noted.

In mid-December, the world's biggest reinsurer, Swiss Re, estimated natural catastrophes and extreme weather events caused around $250 billion in damage this year. 

It said the total represented a 24 percent increase over last year and that the cost to the insurance industry alone was the fourth highest since 1970.

Agence France-Presse

Venice faces more floods as state of emergency declared

VENICE, Italy — Flood-hit Venice was bracing for another exceptional high tide Friday, as Italy declared a state of emergency for the UNESCO city where perilous deluges have caused millions of euros worth of damage.

Churches, shops and homes in the city of canals have been inundated by unusually intense "acqua alta," or high waters, which on Tuesday hit their highest level in half a century.

The crisis, driven by bad weather, has prompted the government to release 20 million euros ($22 million) in funds to tackle the devastation.

The water was expected to reach 1.5 metrers (5 feet) mid-morning on Friday as strong storms and winds batter the region—lower than Tuesday's peak but still dangerous, local officials said.

Undeterred, tourists have been larking around in the flooded St Mark's Square in the sunshine during breaks from the rain, snapping selfies in neon plastic boots.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who has called the flooding "a blow to the heart of our country," said late Thursday that a state of emergency had been approved.

Earlier that day he met Venice's mayor and emergency services before jumping in a speed boat to visit businesses and locals affected by the tide.

Residents whose houses had been hit would immediately get up to 5,000 euros in government aid, while restaurant and shop owners could receive up to 20,000 euros and apply for more later, he said.

Several museums remained closed to the public on Thursday.

As authorities assessed the extent of the damage to Venice's cultural treasures, such as St Mark's Basilica where water invaded the crypt, locals were defiant.

Many stopped for their usual coffees at flooded bars, drinking espresso while standing in several inches of water.

Austrian tourist Cornelia Litschauer, 28, said she felt mixed emotions seeing Venice's famous square half-submerged.

"For the tourists it's amazing, it's something to see. But for the people who live here it's a real problem," Litschauer said, cradling her white Chihuahua Pablo.

"It's strange. Tourists are taking pictures but the city is suffering."

'Need to adapt' 

The Locanda Al Leon hotel said its bookings had suffered from the international media coverage of the flood, with some guests canceling their rooms after seeing images of Venice underwater.

Under the arches of the Ducal Palace, a couple from Hong Kong posed for photos in the chilly morning sun.

"This (trip) was planned a long time ago so we couldn't change it," groom Jay Wong, 34, said.

"Actually this is a good experience. It's an adventure."

Tuesday's high waters submerged around 80 percent of the city, officials said.

Only once since records began in 1923 has the water crept even higher, reaching 1.94 metrer in 1966.

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived for a private tour of the damage sustained to the basilica, while rival leader of the Italian right Matteo Salvini was due to drop by for the same on Friday.

French tourist Manon Gaudre, 22, said seeing Venice submerged was a "unique experience."

"The damage it's causing to monuments and the people is worrying," she said, wondering if climate change was to blame.

Many, including Venice's mayor, have blamed the disaster on global warming and warned that Italy—a country prone to natural disasters—must wake up to the risks posed by ever more volatile seasons.

"We need to be resilient and adapt. We need a policy that looks at the climate through completely different eyes," Environment Minister Sergio Costa said Thursday.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has estimated the damage to Venice at hundreds of millions of euros.

The Serenissima, as the floating city is called, is home to a mere 50,000 residents but receives 36 million global visitors each year.

A massive infrastructure project has been under way since 2003 to protect the city, but it has been plagued by cost overruns, corruption scandals and delays.

The plan involves 78 gates that can be raised to protect Venice's lagoon during high tides—but a recent attempt to test part of it caused worrying vibrations and engineers discovered it had rusted.

source: philstar.com

Floods, landslides kill more than 100 in Mexico

More than 100 people have been killed and scores are missing in landslides and flooding caused by heavy rain in Mexico, a senior government official said late Friday.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong delivered the grim news from the resort town of Acapulco, in one of the worst affected regions, with President Enrique Pena Nieto by his side.

The death toll stood at 101, with 68 people missing following a massive mudslide that swallowed half of the village of La Pintada, in Guerrero state, Osorio Chong said.

Mexico was hammered by the one-two punch of tropical storms Ingrid and Manuel, which left a trail of destruction that damaged tens of thousands of homes, flooded cities and washed out roads.

After regenerating into a hurricane and hitting the northwestern state of Sinaloa late Thursday, affecting 100,000 people and killing three, Manuel finally dissipated over the mountains.

The state of Guerrero was the hardest hit, with at least 65 deaths and its Pacific resort of Acapulco left isolated after the two roads to Mexico City were covered in landslides on Sunday.

Osorio Chong also said that authorities are searching for a police helicopter that had been evacuating people from La Pintada when it disappeared Thursday. Only crewmembers were apparently missing.

Rescuers have abandoned the search by air because of heavy fog, but have continued to search by land, Osorio Chong said.

"We are really worried," the minister earlier told Radio Formula. "They risked their lives all the time, because it was important to evacuate people."

'Thank God we're leaving'

Thousands of tourists trapped in flood-stricken Acapulco for almost a week packed into cars and buses on Friday after authorities reopened the road link to Mexico City following the storms.

Traffic piled up as police allowed cars to leave in groups of 50 to avoid huge backups on the "Sun Highway."

The highway department warned travelers that the trip north, which usually takes around four hours, would last nine to 10 hours, with only a single lane open in some stretches and a diversion to another road.

"Thank God we're leaving, even if there is traffic," said Imelda Cuellar Ramirez, a Mexican holidaymaker who was driving out with eight relatives.

More than 40,000 tourists, mostly Mexicans seeking sun during a three-day holiday weekend, were left stranded when the storms struck five days ago.

Half the city was flooded, while rising waters brought out crocodiles. Looters ransacked stores.

Around 24,000 tourists left in airlifts organized by the military and commercial carriers, but tempers flared as they stood in long lines to get one of the precious seats.

Thousands of frustrated tourists sheltered at the convention center blocked an avenue for half an hour late Thursday in protest against the slow pace of the airlift.

Waiting to board a bus, Alejandro Tubias, a Mexico City resident, said it was high time to leave after his wife contracted a stomach bug that they blamed on the lack of drinking water.

"We are more than happy. We are in a hurry to go because my wife is sick and because we don't have any money to pay the hotel room," he said.

More than 4,000 tourists left on 105 buses on Friday, officials said.

Many dead

While tourists drove out of Acapulco, hundreds of troops and civil protection workers dug with shovels and pickaxes in La Pintada, the coffee-growing village west of Acapulco swamped by a massive mudslide.

Officially, 68 people are missing in the village and two people were killed -- their bodies were pulled out of the debris -- but villagers fear that scores have perished.

"I think there's a lot of dead. A lot of my relatives died, they're buried and we can't do anything," said farmer Diego Zeron.

The mud collapsed on the village of 400 people during independence day celebrations last Monday, swallowing homes, a school and church before crashing into the river.

The soldiers and civil protection workers, many wearing surgical masks, removed pieces of broken homes and chopped up fallen trees with machetes.

Helicopters evacuated more than 330 villagers to Acapulco, but a few families decided to stay back, waiting for news on the missing.

source: interaksyon.com

Death toll nears 100 as new hurricane hits northwest Mexico

ATOYAC DE ALVAREZ, Mexico - Deaths from floods and landslides battering Mexico neared 100 on Thursday as a fresh hurricane hit the northwest and rescuers faced a risky mission in a village buried in mud.

Hurricane Manuel, the same weather system that pummeled the Pacific coast earlier this week, made landfall on the state of Sinaloa, prompting the evacuation of a small fishing town before weakening back to tropical storm force.

Luis Felipe Puente, the national civil protection coordinator, said the death toll rose to 97 from 81, with 65 of them registered in the southwestern state of Guerrero.

Guerrero was the hardest-hit state from the dual onslaught of Manuel and sister storm Ingrid on the east coast this week, which drenched most of the country, damaging bridges, roads and tens of thousands of homes.

The disaster left the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco cut off from the world, marooning tourists and residents, while a massive mudslide swamped a mountain hamlet of 400 people west of the city.

Ediberto Tabarez, the mayor of Atoyac de Alvarez, a municipality that oversees La Pintada, told AFP that at least 15 bodies have been found after more than 20 homes were crushed.

The threat of a new landslide in the coffee-growing village of La Pintada delayed a mission to seek 58 missing people.

But the federal government said it had yet to confirm any deaths and that so far survivors testified that they had removed five bodies from the site.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said rescue teams were unable to start the search because water was gushing from the hill, threatening to send more rock and mud over the village.

Police helicopters had rescued 334 women, children and senior citizens on Wednesday and were supposed to return on Thursday to pick up 45 men and a few officers who were left behind overnight.

"These 45 people are in a dangerous situation," Osorio Chong told MVS radio, adding that homes are barely visible. "The rest of the hill could fall."

The mobile phones of AFP journalists heading to the village had no reception. An aerial video showed a river of mud that had slid down a hill, covering a huge chunk of the village.

From Atoyac, it normally takes two hours by car in winding mountain roads to reach La Pintada, but the road may be damaged by the storms, which could make the trek much lengthier.

‘Ugly noise, worse than a bomb’

Survivors of the disaster who were evacuated to Acapulco recalled hearing a rumble before the earth came crashing down on houses, the church and the school as people were having independence day lunch last Monday.

"It was an ugly noise, worse than a bomb," said Ana Clara Catalan, 17, who was preparing corn tortillas when the earth collapsed.

News of the disaster only emerged two days later after a survivor was able to radio someone in a neighboring village.

"More than half of La Pintada was demolished, few homes were left," said Maria del Carmen Catalan, a 27-year-old mother of three.

The storms that swept across the nation have damaged 35,000 homes and forced the evacuation of 50,000 people, officials said.

More than half of Acapulco was flooded, stranding 40,000 tourists who sought airlifts while looters ransacked stores.

The civilian airport's terminal was flooded in knee-high dark water, but commercial carriers Aeromexico and Interjet have flown special flights since Tuesday.

Osorio Chong said almost 12,000 tourists had been flown to Mexico City in special military and commercial flights while authorities hoped to re-open the road out of Acapulco on Friday.

A human rights group accused the authorities of neglecting mountain communities.

The minister said "we do care about the lives of people in the mountains" but "we can't enter some communities by air or land."

As the cost of the flooding continued to mount, the finance ministry said it had around 12 billion pesos ($925.60 million) available in emergency funding.

While all but two of Mexico's ports remained open to large ships, including its three main oil export hubs along the Gulf, nearly 40 ports along both the Gulf and Pacific coasts were closed on Thursday morning to smaller boats, the transport ministry said.

State oil monopoly Pemex said it had dispatched technicians to fix a ruptured 12-inch oil pipeline between the Gulf port of Madero inland to Cadereyta, which connects two refineries.

The pipeline was damaged when the Pablillo River burst its banks due to heavy rains.

While Manuel churned in the west, a new tropical cyclone threatened to form in the east and cause more misery. (With additional Reuters reports from Miguel Gutierrez, Gabriel Stargardter and David Alire Garcia)

source: interaksyon.com

Google releases crisis map to monitor disaster-prone areas

MANILA - Google on Tuesday said it has released a crisis map to help Pinoys monitor disaster-prone areas in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

Google's announcement comes as half the Philippine capita is submerged in flood water because of heavy rains spawned by Typhoon "Maring."

Google Map, which Pinoys can access on their desktops and mobile browsers, provides information about the tropical storm’s path, the rainfall warning, and the 24-hour forecast of accumulated rainfall across the country. The map also shows clouds imagery, landslide and flood-prone areas, as well as rainfall and flooding forecast

“Coming from our experience during recent typhoons, we realize that we are in a unique position to help our fellow Pinoys through technology. We will continue to assist in disseminating information to the public," said Aileen Apolo, head of outreach at Google Southeast Asia.

"This crisis map is made possible with the help of the government, first responders and our volunteer mappers, and we hope it will be useful to those who want to help out," Apolo added.

Anyone can share the maps or embed them in websites. “Simply hit the ‘Share’ button at the top of the map to get the HTML code,” Apolo said. “We will continue to update the maps as more information becomes available.”


For data on typhoons and other crises, go to www.google.org/crisisresponse.

Luzon has been battered by the southwest monsoon brought by Maring since Saturday, displacing 600,000 families. Seven have been reported dead due to the torrential rains.

source: interaksyon.com

88 flights cancelled, 5 others diverted to Clark; NAIA 3, 4 operations stalled

A total of 88 domestic and international flights had to be cancelled Tuesday and five others diverted to Clark International Airport in Pampanga due to the torrential monsoon rains strengthened by tropical storm Maring (international codename: Trami). The rains and floods also prevented booked passengers from leaving for the airports.

Ramp operations at terminals 3 and 4 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport also had to be suspended at 10:30 a.m., although operations remained normal at terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 1 handles international flights of most foreign carriers.



According to NAIA’s Media Affairs Division, cancelled flights as of 3 p.m. Tuesday were:

Philippine Airlines (PAL)

    PR 209 Manila-Melbourne (Original ETD: 9 p.m.)
    PR 300/301 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
    PR 306/307 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
    PR 318/319 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
    PR 330/331 Manila -Xiamen-Manila
    PR 336/337 Manila-Shanghai-Manila
    PR 358/359 Manila-Beijing-Manila
    PR 408 Manila-Kansai
    PR 416/417 Manila-Pusan-Manila
    PR 432 Manila-Narita
    PR 438 Manila-Nagoya
    PR 468/469 Manila-Incheon-Manila
    PR 501/512 Manila-Singapore-Manila
    PR 503/504 Manila-Singapore-Manila
    PR 507/508 Manila-Singapore-Manila
    PR 517/518 Manila-Kuala Lumpur-Manila
    PR 537 Manila-Denpasar (Original ETD: 8:40 p.m.)
    PR 730/731 Manila-Bangkok-Manila
    PR 736/737 Manila-Bangkok-Manila
    PR 8488/8489 Manila-Incheon-Manila
    PR 894/895 Manila-Taipei-Manila

    PR 813/814 Manila-Davao-Manila
    PR 849/850 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    PR 853/854 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    PR 855/856 Manila-Cebu-Manila

PAL Express

    2P 014/015 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
    2P 033/034 Manila-Busuanga-Manila
    2P 039/040 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    2P 047/048 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    2P 051 052 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    2P 065/066 Manila-Surigao-Manila
    2P 263/264 Manila-Naga-Manila
    2P 525/526 Manila-Cagayan-Manila
    2P 527/528 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila
    2P 543/544 Manila-Dumaguete-Manila
    2P 581/582 Manila-Legaspi-Manila
    2P 587/588 Manila-Dipolog-Manila
    2P 773/774 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila
    2P 907/908 Manila-Bacolod-Manila
    2P 918/919 Manila-Laoag-Manila
    2P 943/944 Manila-Puerto Prinsesa-Manila
    2P 965/966 Manila-Cagayan-Manila
    2P 967/968 Manila-Butuan-Manila
    2P 985/986 Manila-Tacloban-Manila

TigerAir

    DG 7002/7003 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    DG 7004/7005 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    DG 7014/7015 Manila-Cebu-Manila
    DG 7044/7045 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
    DG 7062/7063 Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila
    DG 7072/7073 Manila-Iloilo-Manila
    DG 7082/7083 Manila-Bacolod-Manila

Cebu Pacific

    5J 327/328 Manila-Legazpi-Manila
    5J 339/340 Manila-Kalibo-Manila
    5J 373/374 Manila-Roxas-Manila
    5J 385/386 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila
    5J 506/507 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
    5J 523/524 Manila-Naga-Manila
    5J 563/564 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    5J 659/660 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
    5J 787/788 Manila-Butuan-Manila
    5J 791/792 Manila-Butuan-Manila
    5J 857/858 Manila-Zamboanga-Manila
    5J 899/900 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    5J 901/902 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
    5J 965/968 Manila-Davao-Manila
    5J 975/966 Manila-Davao-Manila
    5J 995/996 Manila-General Santos-Manila

To rebook

For rebooking of PAL and PAL Express flights, passengers are asked to log on to www.philippineairlinescom and www.flypalexpress.com or call PAL hotline 855-8888 or PALex reservations at 855 9000.


At the same time, PAL said six flights, which were diverted to Clark, have returned to Manila. These are: PR 808 Davao Manila, PR 810 Davao-Manila, 2P 022 Masbate-Manila, 2P 202 Roxas-Manila, 2P 268 Naga-Manila, and 2P 092 Calbayog-Manila.

TigerAir Philippines also issued a statement saying all its Tuesday flights to and from Manila have been cancelled until further notice, although the airline has yet to give details of how many flights are affected and the outbound destinations.

"We will waive charges and issue refunds to affected passengers," TigerAir said.

TigerAir passengers may call its hotline 798-4488.

‘Normal at Clark’

Two PAL Airbus A319 aircraft from Davao, two Airphil Express A-8s from Masbate and Calbayog, and a Cebu Pacific Airbus A-320 from Thailand were diverted to Clark at 9:05 a.m. because of poor visibility caused by heavy rains.

Since Saturday, the southwest monsoon has been causing massive floods in many parts of Metro Manila, as well as Central and Northern Luzon.

On Sunday, a Qantas Airbus A-380 aircraft from Hong Kong was diverted to Clark Airport due to traffic congestion and lack of parking space at the NAIA.

Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose I. Luciano said that Clark Airport is ready anytime to accommodate diverted flights as a result of poor visibility and traffic congestions at the NAIA.

“Clark Airport had been accommodating diverted flights, and the airport is always ready of such emergency,” Luciano added.

He said that flight operations at Clark Airport have remained normal since Saturday despite several diverted flights from NAIA, adding that emergency hotlines at Clark Airport are open 24 hours a day.

source: interaksyon.com

The ConjuRain, 'immortal' office workers now showing in your favorite flooded theaters

MANILA - Filipinos still manage to smile through rains and floods as #Maring and #Habagat continue their tryst in Luzon.

source: interaksyon.com

PHL bankers' club in HK to waive cable charges for donations to flood victims

Philippine banks in Hong Kong are waiving cable charges for donations to the relief drive for the victims of recent floods in the Philippines.

The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong said Sunday the waiving of the cable charges will be until September 7, and only to specific accounts.

In an advisory posted on its website Sunday afternoon, the Consulate General said the waiver covers accounts of the Philippine Bankers Club (PBC), including:

Bank of the Philippine Islands

BPI Foundation
- Peso CA: 0011-1530-89

Ayala Foundation:

- US Dollar SA: 0014-0463-48
- Peso CA: 0011-1335-41

Metrobank

Metrobank Foundation

- Peso SA: 066-3721540864

Philippine Red Cross

- Peso: 151-3-041631228
- Dollar: 151-2-15100218-2

GMA Kapuso Foundation

- Peso SA: 3-098-51034-7
- Dollar SA: 2-09800244-2

Philippine National Bank

ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation

- Peso: 419539500013
- Dollar: 419539500021

Philippine Red Cross:

- Peso: 375283500034
- Dollar: 375283500042
GMA Kapuso Foundation:
- Peso: 121003200017
- Dollar: 121003200025

Banco de Oro

BDO Foundation Inc. FAO Relief Operations

- Peso CA: 3008026717

GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc.

- Peso SA: 004690022189
- Dollar SA: 104690072135

Philippine Red Cross

- Peso SA: 453-0018647

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. Sagip Kapamilya

- Peso: 003930114199
- Dollar: 103930081622

The Consulate General also said the transactions will be subject to the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance.


It added the PBC "reserves the right to refuse the transaction should the remitter fail to abide by the said ordinance." — LBG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Govt continues counting 'habagat' cost as death toll mounts

MANILA, Philippines -- The government continued to count the cost of this week’s destructive floods, caused by days of torrential monsoon rains, as the death toll continued to mount.

Saturday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 66 people had died -- 11 of them in landslides, 47 from drowning, the rest of other causes -- six others injured, and 10 more were still missing.

The floods affected close to 600,000 families, or more than 2.6 million persons, in 156 towns and 34 cities in 16 provinces of Region 1 (Ilocos), Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 4-A (CALABARZON), Region 4-B (MIMAROPA), Region 6 (Western Visayas) and Metro Manila.

Late Friday night, 19 roads and bridges remained impassable.

Although most of the floods had receded, the NDRRMC reported new floods in Antipolo City, Binangonan, Jalajala, Baras, San Mateo, Tanay and Taytay in Rizal; and in Kalayaan and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

More than P138 million worth of infrastructure was damaged and close to P20 million in agriculture, while more than 8,000 houses were damaged in affected areas.

A total of 39 towns and cities, including in Metro Manila, have declared themselves in a state of calamity.

source: interaksyon.com

ABS CBN deluged with calls for help as Metropolitan Manila experiences the worst floods since killer typhoon of 2009

Metro Manila resident Josephine Cruz’s plea was loud and clear over ABS CBN’s flagship radio AM station, DZMM (630 kHz in Metro Manila).  Trapped in her house with her 83-year-old grandmother and 11 of her family members, she frantically cried, “Please rescue my family!” In the last 24 hours, as flood waters continued to rise in Metropolitan Manila as a result of torrential rains brought about by Typhoon Gener (international name:  Saola), similar pleas for help also came through the air.  By Tuesday morning, 60 people have perished, while thousands continue to be transported to evacuation centers.  ABS CBN Foundation International announces the reactivation of Sagip Kapamilya, a disaster rescue, relief and rehabilitation program, as the rescue operations are now a race against time.

What began as a typical, seasonal monsoon for the 12 million residents of the Philippine capital quickly became a deadly deluge of torrential rains that caused the overflow of dams and rivers.  The overflowing La Mesa Dam swelled rivers in the cities of Quezon City, Malabon, Valenzuela and Caloocan which surround the metropolis.  More than 5,0000 residents along the Markina River were immediately relocated as water levels over-indexed by 10 percent above critical levels. By yesterday evening, 50 percent of Metropolitan Manila was under water and more than 30 percent of the capital was under waist- or neck-deep waters, earning its horrifying monicker, “waterworld.”

As of August 7 (Manila time), Sagip Kapamilya’s rescue operations has reached 12,552 residents.  Sagip Kapamilya staff and volunteers are responding to the emergency needs of people inside the evacuation centers.  Special attention is being given to children, expectant mothers and the elderly. The immediate needs in the centers include a steady supply of rice; canned goods and other non-perishable food items; clothes for adults, children and infants; blankets and mats; first aid and medicine.

The collective donation of overseas Filipinos has always been the single largest and most reliable source of support for Sagip Kapamilya.  “We humbly call on all overseas Filipinos and our friends to assist in any way to help Filipinos affected by the recent floods in Metropolitan Manila,” says J. Robbie Fabian, President of ABS CBN Foundation International.  “Because the needs are immediate we encourage gifts of cash at this time.  Our commitment is to remit the donations within 24 to 48 hours of accepting them so items of greatest need can be purchased immediately on the ground.”

ABS CBN Foundation International remits 100% of all donations to Sagip Kapamilya in Manila for use in the rescue, relief and long-term rehabilitation of communities affected by natural disasters.  All donations in the US are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by US laws.

Donations of checks or money orders can be sent to ABS CBN Foundation International at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065.  Contributions also be made online at www.abscbnfoundation.org

source: asianjournal.com

Floods cause P152.13-M initial damage to agriculture - DA

MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday placed at P152.13 million initial damage to agriculture affecting some 25,958 hectares of farm lands in 20 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas -- Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

This was attributed to typhoon "Gener" and the southwest monsoon.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Joel Rudinas, in a report submitted to DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, said the rice sector incurred the biggest loss valued at P131.49 million planted to 24,780 hectares in 18 provinces.

Rudina, however, said most of the affected crops were in the seedling/vegetative stage and with chance to recover.

Deemed lost were placed at 3,355 metric tons (MT) of palay from the 3,902 hectares in reproductive/maturity stage.

"Only 1,904 hectares were completely damaged while 22,876 hectares have chance to recover," said Rudinas.

Cagayan Province suffered the biggest loss valued at P36 million, followed by Pampanga at P32 million, Bulacan at P26 million, and Bataan at P14 million.

For the corn sector, initial damage was valued at P7.74 million affecting some 1,035 hectares in six provinces, which are mostly with chances of recovery.

Deemed lost were some 666 MT corn from the 574 hectares in reproductive stage.

Rudinas said most affected were the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga. Around 20 hectares were reported completely damaged.

On the other hand, damage to high value crops was placed at P10.62 million and fisheries at P2.28 million.

Rudinas said high value crops damage were reported in Benguet, La Union and Pangasinan provinces with total volume at 733 MT planted to 143 hectares.

However, he said of the total areas affected for the high value crops, only one hectare was "with no chance to recover."

Meanwhile, Rudinas said effects to fisheries were reported in the provinces of Pangasinan and Cagayan due to damaged fishponds and fish cages.

He said the DA is continuing to gather reports with concerned local government units (LGUs) on production losses as well as damage to infrastructures that are caused by the on-going southwest monsoon.

source: interaksyon.com

De Los Santos Medical Center on E. Rodriguez without food, power, needs help

MANILA, Philippines - The De Los Santos Medical Center along E. Rodriguez Sr. Boulevard in Quezon City has run out of food for its patients and staff and its power supply has also been cut off, a radio station reported past 12:30 a.m., Wednesday.

Also, one of its two generators had run out of power Tuesday evening after it was submerged in flood waters. Its second generator will also lose power in one to two hours.

The hospital has 140 staffers and 72 patients including three babies in incubators, one of whom is suffering from hypothermia. Another patient, who is at the hospital's intensive care unit, needs to be immediately transferred to another medical facility.

E. Rodriguez Sr. remains flooded as of late Tuesday evening. The road 500 meters from the hospital is inaccesible.

Those who want to provide the medical center with relief goods and lend generator to the hospital can contact nurse ChrisTaño via cellphone number 0917-546-2887.

source: interaksyon.com

What to do if you have to evacuate - or leave behind - your pets

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), swamped with calls for help to rescue pets and farm animals left behind by their owners amidst evacuation efforts, has issued some reminders amidst the floods besieging Luzon.

As much as possible, evacuate with your pets. But if this is not possible, make sure they are not restrained or tied down in any way.

Keep your pets untethered, unchained, uncaged if floodwaters start rising. This way, they can swim to safety if you're busy saving your family or things, or you have to be evacuated.

Palangganas or plastic basins can help you move your animals around and maneuver them in the flood as you evacuate.

Always keep a plastic kennel cab handy in case you need to “pack” your animals quickly and ride a boat.

Keep ready other emergency items for animals such as kibble in airtight containers and bottled water.

If you have to leave your animals, leave a note by the doorway or wherever it could be posted about the number of animals inside the house and your contact information so that rescuers can find you.

Leave food and water for your pets.

Keep a collar or tag on your pets that contains your contact information.

Start a buddy system with someone in your neighborhood, so that they will check on your animals during a disaster in case you aren't home.

source: interaksyon.com