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Topic: Deadly landslide in Philippines

lagatta
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2534

posted 19 February 2006 11:11 AM

I'm starting a new thread on this topic as I don't think the way the other one was started was respectful either to the landslide victims, or to babblers. I had been waiting for a news story that provides some sense of the reasons for the horrific death toll. As we'd suspected, deforestation certainly played a role, as did extreme weather conditions.

I remember reports on terrible mudslides closer to here, in Central America and Haiti, with a combination of deforestation and poor people having to live on very unstable land. As soon as I have more concrete details about this landslide, I'll add them.

Among the victims was all the student body and teaching staff of a school ;(.

Some reasons for deadly landslide, heavy toll.

From: Se non ora, quando? | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Polly Brandybuck
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7732

posted 20 February 2006 01:37 PM

I heard something this morning that there may be some survivors. Apparently rescuers have heard noises and detected body heat in the area of an elementary school? I didn't get the source, anyone else hear this? Fingers crossed.

From: To Infinity...and beyond! | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

foofighter
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9423

posted 20 February 2006 01:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by lagatta:
As we'd suspected, deforestation certainly played a role[/URL]

From the story you posted

"In the case of Friday's events in Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte province, it seemed unlikely that logging was to blame.

Local officials and eyewitnesses said the surrounding area was well forested, and the governor's office said deforestation was not the causal factor this time, despite having admitted that was the case in a devastating landslide in Leyte in December 2003."

From: Canada | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

foofighter
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9423

posted 20 February 2006 01:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Polly Brandybuck:
I heard something this morning that there may be some survivors. Apparently rescuers have heard noises and detected body heat in the area of an elementary school? I didn't get the source, anyone else hear this? Fingers crossed.

Link to CBC story

From: Canada | Registered: May 2005 | IP: Logged

Polly Brandybuck
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7732

posted 20 February 2006 10:36 PM

Thanks. I had checked the CBC, but at the time what they were reporting seemed out of sync with what BBC was saying so I was hoping someone could shed some light.

Is there another mudslide thread happening somewhere? This ones seems....underwhelming for the nature of the tragedy.

From: To Infinity...and beyond! | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

rici
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2710

posted 20 February 2006 10:45 PM

AlertNet (sponsored by Reuters) is a pretty good source for information on humanitarian emergencies. If you go to "NGO latest", you will also see press releases from various aid agencies about what they are doing.

[ 20 February 2006: Message edited by: rici ]

From: Lima, Perú | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged

Polly Brandybuck
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7732

posted 20 February 2006 10:58 PM

Thanks for the link.

Wish the news was better, those poor people.

What am I missing? How come somewhere between 900 and 1800 people can die in a mudslide and there be so little news about it? No rush to rescue, no outpouring of sympathy, no collection of funds, no "massive humanitarian effort". Just short news pieces that you have to look for. Is it because there is no one to rescue?

Gawd.

From: To Infinity...and beyond! | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

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