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Philippines buries typhoon dead Philippine mudslides a 'calamity'
(about 1 hour later)
Victims of recent mudslides in the Philippines are being buried in a mass grave to prevent the spread of disease. Philippine President Gloria Arroyo has declared a national calamity following devastating mudslides which have left hundreds of people dead or missing.
The mudslides were triggered by Typhoon Durian, which hit the country on Thursday. They engulfed villages south-east of the capital Manila. The Red Cross has put the death toll from Thursday's tragedy at 406, with 398 missing, but the aid organisation said the toll could pass 1,000.
The official death toll stands at 406, with another 398 missing. Hopes of finding more survivors are dwindling. Hopes of finding many more survivors are fading.
The relief effort is progressing slowly, with soldiers having to walk for hours to reach affected areas. The mudslides, triggered by the heavy rains of Typhoon Durian, struck near the Mayon volcano south-east of Manila.
The worst affected villages are Daraga, Busay and Santo Domingo, near the Mayon volcano, 350km (220 miles) from Manila. Mrs Arroyo released 1bn pesos ($20m, £10m) for reconstruction work and vowed further efforts to find survivors.
"All resources of the government will continue to be mobilised without let-up as we pin hope against hope on the search of survivors," she said in a statement.
Thick sludgeThick sludge
The head of the Red Cross in the Philippines, Richard Gordon, said the death toll could easily reach 700, and possibly even outstrip 1,000. The relief effort is progressing slowly, with soldiers having to walk for hours to reach affected areas.
"There are many unidentified bodies, there could be a lot more hidden below. Whole families may have been wiped out," he told the Associated Press news agency. Whole villages were engulfed by mud that poured from the slopes of the volcano, some 350km (220 miles) from Manila.
The first funerals were carried out late on Saturday, as bodies decomposed in the heat. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_enl_1165070979/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_enl_1165070979/html/1.stm', '1165071046', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=478,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Dark mud surrounds villages and covers the usually green hills href="javascript: void window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_enl_1165070979/html/1.stm', '1165071046', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=478,left=312,top=100');" >Enlarge Image
Local official Gene Villareal told AP that some victims had been buried in a mass grave as a precaution. The head of the local Red Cross, Richard Gordon, said the number of victims could well rise.
"We opted to do this because we might have an epidemic, which could be expected because of the high number of evacuees and homeless," he said. "There are many unidentified bodies. There could be a lot more hidden below. Whole families may have been wiped out," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Officials say more than 40,000 people have been displaced by the mudslides.
The BBC's Sarah Toms, in the Philippines, says people have been using their bare hands to pull bodies from the thick sludge.The BBC's Sarah Toms, in the Philippines, says people have been using their bare hands to pull bodies from the thick sludge.
About 100 miners have arrived to help with rescue efforts and army commanders have asked for dog teams to help with the search.About 100 miners have arrived to help with rescue efforts and army commanders have asked for dog teams to help with the search.
The first funerals were carried out late on Saturday, as bodies decomposed in the heat.
Some victims were buried in a mass grave as a precaution against the spread of disease.
"We opted to do this because we might have an epidemic, which could be expected because of the high number of evacuees and homeless," local official Gene Villareal told AP.
Foreign helpForeign help
Many of the survivors, who have lost not only their homes but their livelihoods too after fruit trees and rice paddies were destroyed, have crammed into makeshift shelters in schools and churches. Officials say more than 40,000 people have been displaced.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_enl_1165070979/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_enl_1165070979/html/1.stm', '1165071046', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=478,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Dark mud surrounds villages and covers the usually green hills href="javascript: void window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/asia_pac_enl_1165070979/html/1.stm', '1165071046', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=600,height=478,left=312,top=100');" >Enlarge Image Disaster agencies say there is an urgent need for fresh water, food and medicine for the survivors, and more body bags. Many of the survivors, who have lost not only their homes but their livelihoods after fruit trees and rice paddies were destroyed, have crammed into makeshift shelters in schools and churches.
Typhoon Durian brought heavy rain and winds of up to 225km/h (140 mph). The rain dislodged ash and boulders from the slopes of the Mayon volcano, causing landslides which engulfed nearby villages. Disaster agencies say there is an urgent need for fresh water, food and medicine for the survivors, and more body bags.
Cedric Daep, head of the provincial Disaster Control Council, said waters had risen so fast that people could not escape from their houses.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the military to assist medical teams in reaching submerged villages.
Canada has pledged more than US$800,000 to help the relief effort and Japan says it will give more than $170,000.Canada has pledged more than US$800,000 to help the relief effort and Japan says it will give more than $170,000.
Durian - named after a spiky Asian fruit - is the fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in the last three months. Durian - named after a spiky Asian fruit - was the fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in the last three months.