Philippine flood victims flee typhoon

These villagers have been walking for at least 10 hours to escape rampaging mudslides and floods in the town of Real. Picture / Reuters

REAL - Residents of flood-hit Philippine towns scrambled to higher ground last night as the most powerful typhoon this year threatened to cause more destruction after floods and landslides killed up to 600 people.

Typhoon Nanmadol had gained strength and was expected to make landfall early today close to the worst flood-affected areas on the eastern coast, packing winds of 185km/h.

With flying conditions treacherous and roads cut off, disaster officials said there was little they could do to protect thousands of people made homeless by the floods and who were running short of food and drinking water.

"We are very concerned and we are not sure how we can avoid further casualties in these areas," Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said. "If you go on the slopes, the ground is very loose. If you go on [lower] ground, the water can rise and you might have mudslides."

Airlines cancelled several domestic and international flights and thousands were stranded at ports after ferries cancelled services. Schools, government offices and the Manila foreign exchange market closed early.

Officials say up to 600 people may have died in landslides and floods that hit several areas on the main northern island of Luzon on Tuesday, devastating three towns on the east coast.

The NDCC said 37,400 families, or 168,000 people, had been affected by the floods and landslides that followed heavy rains early in the week.

Hundreds of people from the town of Real, where more than 100 people died, were walking through deep mud in a attempt to reach higher ground before the typhoon hit.

Houses in Real and nearby towns were destroyed by torrents of logs and mud after rain loosened soil in areas that had been affected by illegal logging.

"We are very scared, that's why we are walking again to a higher area," said Lolita Serrano, 53, from the coastal area in Quezon province east of Manila. "We haven't eaten in two days and haven't received anything from the Government."

Japan said it would provide 15 million pesos worth of aid in the form of tents, generators, water tanks and other items. The United States Embasy announced it would give US$100,000 to the Philippine Red Cross to provide assistance to flood victims.

Elma Aldea, an official at the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said the US military had promised to provide engineers to help clear roads and build bridges.

Seven military helicopters were sent to deliver relief goods to isolated coastal and mountain villages on the east coast, Lieutenant-Colonel Restituto Padilla said, adding that low clouds and poor visibility made it a risky operation.

He said Air Force pilots had seen dozens of bodies floating in swollen rivers or buried in waist-deep mud.

- REUTERS