Typhoon Xangsane death toll in Philippines rises to 48

The death toll in the Philippines from typhoon "Xangsane" rose to 48 on Friday, latest figures from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

Most of the deaths occurred in Laguna province, south of Manila, where two landslides triggered by Xangsane hit two towns and killed at least 19 people on Thursday, with 20 still missing, NDCC said.

Other deaths were from Metro Manila and other provinces, caused by landslide, building collapse and fallen objects brought by the rainstorm of Xangsane, NDCC said.

A total of 215 people were wounded, according to NDCC's data.

Local officials in General Trias town in Cavite, however, reported as many as 53 people were feared dead as surging flood waters engulfed dozens of villages.

Xangsane destroyed over 300 million pesos (6 million U.S. dollars) worth of crops and property, most of which were in Eastern Visayas and Metro Manila, the agriculture department said.

According to the public works department, damage to infrastructure has reached 125 million pesos (2.5 million U.S. dollars) so far.

NDCC said the typhoon destroyed a total of 235 homes around the country, while partially damaging 1,026 residences.

Xangsane also affected the lives of 60,820 people or 12,345 families in 62 villages around the country. Many of these people continue to stay in some 47 evacuation centers.

Xangsane, the Laotian word for elephant, is the 13th typhoon this year, and the strongest to hit Manila since 1995.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Albay Governor Fernando Gonzales placed their areas under a state of calamity respectively on Thursday. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that the government was doing its best to address the relief needs and conduct rescue operations.

Financial markets, schools and government offices except emergency services in the capital region remained closed for a second workday since the typhoon reached the most densely populated part of the country on Wednesday.

Source: Xinhua