Storm Sendong leaves 652 dead, 900 missing

Tropical Storm Sendong wrought catastrophic damage in Mindanao, leaving at least 652 people dead and 900 others missing, most of whom are feared dead and millions of pesos in damages to houses, buildings, and crops.

Reports said, most of the fatalities are from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities which were hit by flashfloods.


According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the fatality figure is expected to rise as workers continue to retrieve bodies.

Tropical Storm Sendong (international name: Washi) was formed early on December 14, 2011 as an unnamed tropical depression. During that day the depression gradually developed before being upgraded to a tropical storm and assigned the name Sendong, by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronimical Services Administration on December 15.

In just 12 hours (December 16 (Friday evening) to December 17), Washi dumped more than a month of average rain on Mindanao which recorded a rainfall amount of 180.9 mm. "This is more than the normal volume of monthly rains in Cagayan for December, which is 99 mm," according to weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio.

Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of local police, reservists, coast guard officers and civilian volunteers were mobilized for rescue efforts, but were hampered by flooded-out roads and lack of electricity. Rescuers in boats rushed offshore to save people swept out to sea, Associated Press said.

Photo Credits: GMA 7 Network