Philippines still in typhoon danger

Last Updated: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:17:00 +1100

The Australian Red Cross is warning the worst is not yet over in the Philippines, with large volumes of water yet to run off the Cordillera mountain range after Typhoons Nasat and Nalgae struck over the past few days.

The Red Cross says initial evacuations have suppressed the death toll, with 400,000 people living in evacuation centres.

The organisation's head of international programs, Donna McSkimming, told Radio Australia the ground is soaked following the typhoons, and water cascading from mountain ranges is likely to cause land slides.

Flood waters continue to rise, there's been high winds of over 100kms an hour, and landslides in some areas with fears for continued flooding the Luzon river system.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in Manila recorded only one death from Nalgae, but said Nesat left at least 52 people dead after it unleashed strong winds and devastating floods.

More than 2.4 million people were affected by Nesat, nearly half a million of them still staying in evacuation centres, while the rest opted to wait out the floods in their homes.

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