Catastrophic floods submerge whole towns in

Philippines

Catastrophic floods have completely submerged entire towns and villages

in the northern region of the Philippines, forcing tens of thousands of
people from their homes just days after Typhoon Vamco tore through the
country.

Dozens of towns and villages have been devastated in the Cagayan Valley,
north of the capital Manila as flood waters up to 12 metres deep
swamped tens of thousands of homes.

Red Cross fears for the safety and wellbeing of thousands who remain
trapped, with at least 47,000 people rescued so far according to local
authorities. Initial assessments indicate around 90 per cent of homes have
been flooded in Tuguegarao, the Cagayan provincial capital.

Red Cross teams have been working through the night searching in the
floodwaters by flashlight and rescuing people stranded on rooftops.
 Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon said:

“Our teams are urgently searching for people trapped in these horrifying
floodwaters and rescuing people who have been forced to camp on their roofs.
We’re making sure people have access to critical first aid, shelter, hot meals
and safe drinking water.

“These floods are a calamity and the worst we have seen in Cagayan for at
least 40 years. More Red Cross rescue teams and resources are being rushed
to help with our massive rescue and relief operations."

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is

releasing 750,000 Swiss Francs to assist with immediate relief for 40,000
people affected by the floods and Typhoon Vamco, including communities
in Cagayan Valley. IFRC has also more than doubled an international
Emergency Appeal to 8.5 million Swiss Francs, to support at least 100,000
people whose homes and livelihoods were devastated by Super Typhoon
Goni earlier this month.

Head of IFRC Philippine Country Office Robert Kaufman said:

“These catastrophic floods are another sad and brutal blow for the people of
the Philippines. This is a terrible triple disaster as these terrifying floods and
two devastating typhoons strike communities already reeling from the health,
social and economic impacts of COVID-19.

"We are urgently redoubling our support for the people of the Philippines, all
while keeping people safe from COVID-19, in one of the most complex relief
operations ever. People need immediate relief as well as longer term support
to recover and rebuild livelihoods in the weeks and months ahead. We must
build back better in the facing of recurring threats.”