TROPICAL STORM KETSANA KILLS 240 IN PHILIPPINES
Baku, 29 September (AZERTAC). The Philippines government says 240 people are now known to have died in severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana, BBC said.
The country has appealed for foreign aid to deal with the disaster, which has displaced more than 450,000 people. President Gloria Arroyo has opened the presidential palace to survivors to receive food aid and shelter. Some 380,000 people are living in makeshift shelters, three times more than previously reported.
Weather forecasters are predicting more heavy rain later in the week, increasing the urgency to help those left most vulnerable by the worst flooding in more than 40 years.
"Evacuees will be given shelter in available areas among the Malacanang buildings and in tents that will be put up in between the buildings," Mrs Arroyo said in a statement announcing the opening of the palace compound.
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