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| Philippine floods test rescuers | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Rescue workers are being overwhelmed by the scale of floods in the Philippines that are estimated to have killed at least 86 people, officials say. | |
| The head of the National Disaster Co-ordinating Council, Anthony Golez, said available resources were being spread too thinly. | |
| Torrential rains from Tropical Storm Ketsana flooded the capital Manila and nearby provinces on Saturday. | |
| Some 80% of Manila is said to be under water, with 435,000 people displaced. | |
| "We are concentrating on massive relief operations. The system is overwhelmed, local government units are overwhelmed," Mr Golez told reporters. | |
| "We were used to helping one city, one or two provinces but now, they are following one after another. Our assets and people are spread too thinly." | |
| Soldiers, police, medics and a huge number of volunteers were involved in the effort to help flood victims, authorities said. | |
| Unconfirmed reports say dozens more bodies have been recovered, and one suggested the number of dead had risen to at least 100. | |
| Telephone and power services in some parts of the city remained cut, while local government officials said survivors in makeshift evacuation camps were desperately short of food, water and clothes. | |
| 'Calamity' | 'Calamity' |
| Over the weekend, the government declared a "state of calamity" in Manila and 25 provinces, allowing access to emergency funds. | Over the weekend, the government declared a "state of calamity" in Manila and 25 provinces, allowing access to emergency funds. |
| class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8277088.stm">In pictures: Philippine flood clear up class="" href="/2/hi/talking_point/8276970.stm">Eyewitness: Philippines floods | |
| Philippine President Gloria Arroyo visited the devastated areas, appealing for calm over what she described as an "extreme event" and pleading for donations to aid rescue efforts. | |
| Residents have been emailing the BBC with their experiences. | Residents have been emailing the BBC with their experiences. |
| Ramil Digal Culle in Cavite City, south of Manila, says he spent the night with families trapped on rooftops without food and water. | Ramil Digal Culle in Cavite City, south of Manila, says he spent the night with families trapped on rooftops without food and water. |
| "The mothers were at work when the flooding happened and they got stranded with me, unable to go home," he writes. | "The mothers were at work when the flooding happened and they got stranded with me, unable to go home," he writes. |
| "Strange how I could have internet access during the disaster to describe this experience... while the government struggles with a scarcity of rescue equipment." | "Strange how I could have internet access during the disaster to describe this experience... while the government struggles with a scarcity of rescue equipment." |
| 'Heroic rescuer' | |
| Maria Luz Magallanes cries at the coffin of her son who rescued many people. | |
| Muelmar Magallanes braved rampaging fllods to rescue more than 30 people, but ended up sacrificing his own life, the AFP news agency reported. | |
| The 18-year-old construction worker was hailed as a hero by family member and others he saved. | |
| With the help of his older brother, Mr Magallenes tied a string around his waist and first took his siblings to safety, before going back to the house for his parents. | |
| Then he decided go back to save neighbours trapped on rooftops. | |
| Then he dived back in again when he saw a mother and her six-month-old baby daughter in the water. | |
| "I didn't know that the current was so strong. In an instant, I was under water. We were going to die," the mother Menchie Penalosa told AFP. | |
| "Then this man came from nowhere and grabbed us. He took us to where the other neighbours were, and then he was gone," she added. | |
| Witnesses said an exhausted Mr Megallanes was simply swept away by the water. | |
| "I am going to be forever grateful to Muelmar. He gave his life for my baby. I will never forget his sacrifice, " said Ms Penalosa. | |
| His father Samuel said: "He always had a good heart. We had already been saved. But he decided to go back one last time for the girl." | |
| Some officials are quoted as saying rubbish-choked drains and waterways, along with high tides, compounded the flooding. | Some officials are quoted as saying rubbish-choked drains and waterways, along with high tides, compounded the flooding. |
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| People cling to debris as they are swept along a river in Marikina | People cling to debris as they are swept along a river in Marikina |
| Governor Joselito Mendoza of Bulacan province, north of the capital, said: "It was tragic that people drowned in their own houses as the storms raged." | Governor Joselito Mendoza of Bulacan province, north of the capital, said: "It was tragic that people drowned in their own houses as the storms raged." |
| The Philippines chief weather forecaster, Nathaniel Cruz, said more than 40cm (16in) of rain fell on Manila within 12 hours on Saturday, vastly exceeding the 39cm (15in) average for the month of September. | The Philippines chief weather forecaster, Nathaniel Cruz, said more than 40cm (16in) of rain fell on Manila within 12 hours on Saturday, vastly exceeding the 39cm (15in) average for the month of September. |
| The previous record of just over 33cm (13in) in a 24 hour period was set in June 1967, Mr Cruz added. He had earlier blamed climate change for the mass downpours. | The previous record of just over 33cm (13in) in a 24 hour period was set in June 1967, Mr Cruz added. He had earlier blamed climate change for the mass downpours. |
| Ketsana, with winds of up to 100km/h, hit the Philippines early on Saturday, crossing the main northern Luzon island before heading out toward the South China Sea. | Ketsana, with winds of up to 100km/h, hit the Philippines early on Saturday, crossing the main northern Luzon island before heading out toward the South China Sea. |
| Are you in the Philippines? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your comments. | Are you in the Philippines? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your comments. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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