Philippines Mudslide
On Friday, February 17, a landslide in the southern Philippine province of Leyte buried some 500 houses and an elementary school where around 246 students were believed to have been in class.
On Friday, February 17, a landslide in the southern Philippine province of Leyte buried some 500 houses and an elementary school where around 246 students were believed to have been in class.
The confirmed death toll stands today at 93, with some 1,000 others missing and feared dead.
The disaster occurred in the village of Guinsaugon, where search and rescue operations have been the priority in responding to the disaster, with a secondary effort being the temporary evacuation of neighboring villages to ensure safety of those communities.
The Philippine government has not yet requested international assistance other than equipment/technical support and personnel for search and rescue.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), a Church World Service (CWS) partner and member of the Action by Churches (ACT) International network, is shipping items including bottled water, blankets and plastic sheets to some of the temporary shelters that are housing evacuees from neighboring areas.
According to an update from the area, there is a food supply that will last evacuees until the weekend.
Global Ministries’ partner, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, reports the loss of at least 65 members of their Baranggay Guinsaugon congregation, as well as the destruction of the congregation’s church building.
UCC responds through One Great Hour of Sharing Disciples respond through Week of Compassion