Typhoon Fengshen
23/06/2008
The local community around the Iloilo Children's Village have taken shelter in the village in southeastern Philippines following Typhoon Fengshen. Iloilo province received the heaviest brunt from the typhoon which hit the Philippines on 21 June, with over 150 people dead and residents forced to take refuge on rooftops and higher places after widespread flooding.
In the village itself, the children, mothers and staff are safe. Water has been receded but electric supply and telephones lines are to be restored.
The streets and many houses of Iloilo were flooded by the gusts of up to 170 km/ph. Roads were blocked as trees and electricity poles uprooted. Relief and rescue operations are on and authorities are trying to reach out to the communities.
According to the Red Cross at least 155 people are confirmed dead and many missing in the central and south Philippines. According to official estimates, about 360,500 people have lost their homes and had to be evacuated due to the flooding and risk of landslides.
Manila and surrounding areas were lashed by the typhoon in the early hours today, with power being knocked out in large parts of the city and many domestic and international flights cancelled.
An archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year. SOS Children has been in the Phillipines since 1964, and today has more than 700 children in our care across 7 communities.
Relevant Countries: Philippines.