Tropical Storm Sendong

Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) ravaged Mindanao, slamming it with devastating rains and unleashing flash floods and landslides that have left a horrifying trail of destruction. As of 12PM, the death toll has reached 720 (Cagayan De Oro 346, Iligan City 279, Bukidnon 47, Negros Oriental 37, Lanao del Norte 9, Compostela Valley 5, Zamboanga del Norte 3, Surigao del Sur 1). Most of the dead were asleep in the middle of the night on Friday when raging floodwaters pounded their homes from rivers and cascaded
from mountain slopes following 12 straight hours of heavy rains in Mindanao. Drowning has been identified as the main cause of death. Sendong affected 21 municipalities, 78 barangays and 13,924 families (63,779 persons), with 245 injured and 807 reported missing. 3,422 houses were totally or partially damaged and there are still 38,332 persons housed in evacuation centers to date.
There are currently 7,431 persons in 4 evacuation centers in Iligan City, which was consumed by flashfloods last night after the heavy downpour of rains. Cagayan De Oro, which has now been placed undera state of calamity, experienced 180 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours, which has led to massivefloods in 23 of its 80 barangays, leaving about 20,000 residents in evacuation centers. Prior to theonslaught of Sendong in Zamboanga del Norte, about 143 persons had already evacuated their houseswhich were destructed by flash floods that swept the municipality of Polanco as well as Dipolog andDapitan cities. Dapitan River had overflown early yesterday morning which flooded several barangaysin Dapitan.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) maintains strict 24-hour monitoring of all situations in Mindanao, whilenearly 700 PRC staff and volunteers deployed in the field are conducting detailed assessments. Searchand rescue teams have been mobilized and hot meals have been prepared and distributed in evacuationcenters. Welfare desks, psychosocial support and first aid stations have been situated in the evacuationcenters for affected families. PRC has provided support by giving food packs, sleeping materials,hygiene kits, dinnerware, water containers, body bags and slippers.
Sendong is the 19th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year. As we wage this battle againstdisasters, we are appealing for immediate cash assistance to continue providing relief and recoveryefforts for all affected communities. We are counting on your support to be able to provide food, non-fooditems (including kitchen ware, dinner sets, cleaning materials, latrines, medicine, livelihood programs andshelter) and our services to the most vulnerable Filipinos in the hardest hit cities and provinces.
We appreciate your generosity and continued support to the Philippine Red Cross. Thank you!