Flood/Landslide/Deforestation Toll In Philippines Near 1,800 Dead

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"Most of the victims were sleeping when landslides hit the area," Brigadier-General Alexander Yano, an army spokesman, told reporters.

Yano said wide areas of Bicol were still without electricity after transmission lines and power pylons were damaged by a typhoon and three tropical storms that hit the eastern and northern Philippines from late November to early December.

Nearly 1,800 people are dead or missing after torrents of water, mud, rocks and logs swept away villages and bridges. In areas like Bicol, the heavy rain has loosened the soil, leading to landslides.

At least three million Filipinos have been affected by the four storms. Damage to crops, fishing and infrastructure is estimated at 4.69 billion pesos ($83 million)."

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http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/28564/story.htm