Philippines Mudslide Rescue

This was yet another tragedy to hit South East Asia – almost the entire town has been wiped out! Over 1000 dead!

Teams of Philippine soldiers and U.S. Marines, along with Malaysian and Taiwanese experts, had suspended the search overnight because of concern that rain was making the area more prone to further landslides. Also, a small generator used to light the area ran out of fuel.

“We have not found any structure to indicate the location of the school,” said Joel Son, in charge of a group of miners working at the site. “It’s all mud.”

Hopes for a miracle have focused on the school largely because of unconfirmed reports that survivors there sent mobile phone text messages to relatives shortly after the landslide hit Friday.

Tuesday was another frustrating day, with no one found alive since just hours after a mountainside collapsed in a wall of mud and boulders that swamped the farming village of Guinsaugon on Leyte island. The official death toll rose to 107, but authorities fear it could surpass 1,000. link