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P.G. woman fears for family after fourth storm pounds Philippines |
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Written by Citizen staff
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Monday, 02 November 2009 |
A father and his sons wade through floodwaters brought about by typhoon Mirinae at Santa Cruz in Laguna province south of Manila. Strong winds and pounding rain from the fourth typhoon to whip the Philippines in a month lashed the capital and nearby provinces over the weekend. (AP photo)
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The BBC reported that Typhoon Mirinae struck the eastern coastal province of Quezon Friday, bringing with it 150 km/h winds and heavy rain that killed seven people and left a one-month-old baby missing as it swept west across the country to south of the capital, Manila. On Monday, Bloomberg it weakened into a tropical depression but still slammed into Vietnam's southern coast, killing two, causing 7,900 people to be evacuated and forcing an alert that sent 18,100 ships fleeing from its path.
A UN official told the BBC that Mirinae did not hit Manila as hard this time and the Associated Press reported massive power outages in the city and fresh flooding. That's not much comfort to Finger, whose sister, Norma Estrada, lives in Paranaque, near the capital with her husband, daughter, son, three grandchildren and eight children who rely on her for shelter.
"I'm fortunate to live here and to be able to help them," said Finger. "Some of their friends don't have family overseas and the government help is so slow in coming."
Her sister is currently living in a rental home after flooding wiped out her family home and most of her belongings.
"They lost everything," said Finger. "She went to house to try to retrieve some important papers but the water was up to her waist. Then the current came up so fast, it reached her neck ..."
Her sister was pulled from the water and, until last weekend, her grandchildren kept watch over the home to protect it from looters. They've also received help from Canada, not just from Finger, but from the staff at Prince George Regional Hospital, where her daughter, Gigi, works.
"They heard how my family was affected," said Finger. "My daughter came home and she handed me an envelope and a card. I was speechless."
Finger is also concerned about an acquaintance, an ex-pat from Switzerland, who leaves in the Albay province. Her friend was caught in landslides from the active Mayon volcano and authorities fear rivers of mud and loose volcanic rock that have driven 10,000 from their homes may be unleashed again.
Albay isn't the only area of the Philippines to see landslide fears. Budnick Tandoc, a student from Baguio City, described how the town next to him was deluged.
"They only thing you could see of the houses were their roofs - the rest, mud."
It just another worry in a humanitarian crisis in the region that, in the Philippines alone, has killed 900 people and left 100,000 in makeshift evacuation centres even before Mirinae struck.
The Philippines ordeal began in earnest on Aug. 7, when Typhoon Morakat struck the north of the islands, killing 10. Tropical Storm Ketsana followed on Sept. 26, killing more than 300 and causing the worst flooding in Manila in 40 years.
After that came Typhoon Parma, which brought landslides and flooding, on Oct. 3 and now Mirinae over the weekend.
All told, 10 cyclones have hit the area this year, according to Bloomberg. The situation prompted the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society in Prince George to consider setting up a relief fund for the area. So far, executive director Baljit Sethi said there's been a meeting with the Filipino community in the city over the fund and another meeting is scheduled for today.
The damage from the storms have struck basic infrastructure, from power to medical care. Finger said her family is afraid the unsanitary conditions unleashed by flooding will complicate problems related to H1N1. She was joined in her concern over health by Dr. Rogelio Cabida, who runs a hospital in the province of Pangasinan. Around 27,000 people rely on Dr. Cabida's facility for their basic medical needs and the storms at one point left his clinic flooded.
"The water in the clinic went up to the knees," Dr. Cabida, who was vacationing in Canada, was told by his staff.
There are also concerns about food. The flooding, said Dr. Cabida, destroyed many rice crops in the area.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 November 2009 )
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