Philippines - floods

Fears of disease outbreak as death toll climbs to 140

Article published on the 2009-09-28 Latest update 2009-09-29 06:21 TU

A man pulls his pedicab loaded with belongings in a neighbourhood east of Manila
(Photo: Reuters)

Philippine health authorities warned Monday of disease outbreaks following Saturday’s horror floods, as filthy water covered large areas of Manila and bodies lay in coffins next to survivors at evacuation centres.

The death toll has climbed to at least 140, with 32 still missing and more than 450,000 others displaced. More than 115,000 people were dangerously crammed into makeshift centres such as schools and open-air gymnasiums.

Infections including swine flu, diarrhoea and the bacterial disease leptospirosis were at the top of the government's list of concerns, Doctor Melissa Guerrero, chief aide to the health secretary, told the AFP news agency.

With authorities desperately short of food, medicine, clean water and medics, various national appeals for help were launched on Monday.

"The government is trying to assess if they can manage without more international help coming in," correspondent Girlie Linao, in Manila, said, adding that the disaster co-ordinating council has admitted they are overwhelmed and that rescuers are stretched too thinly.

"The badly hit area in metropolitan Manila was the east section,” said Linao. “Unfortunately it is by a creek and by a river, so every time there is flooding and rains, the creek and river would overflow. It is also a catch basin - it is lower than some other parts of Manila."

Tropical storm Ketsana dropped the heaviest rain in more than 40 years on Manila, and neighbouring areas of Luzon island over the weekend.