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Philippine mudslide toll climbs to 1,086 dead or missing
Mon Dec 4, 10:18 PM ET

LEGASPI, Philippines (AFP) - More than 1,080 people are either dead or missing after rivers of mud and volcanic ash triggered by a typhoon swamped villages in the Philippines, civil defence officials said.

In its morning update Tuesday, civil defence officials confirmed 450 dead from the mudslides around Mayon volcano in the eastern region of Bicol and a further 636 missing, a total of 1,086.

National Disaster Coordinating Centre executive officer Glenn Rabonza said more than 1.14 million people had been affected by the disaster.

It listed a further 599 people as missing in the rest of the Bicol region.

Rabonza said more than one million people had been affected by the disaster, with damage to property alone estimated at about 274 million pesos (5.53 million dollars).

The deadly mudslides were triggered by torrential rains from super typhoon Durian, which mixed with volcanic ash on the slopes of the Mayon volcano.

President Gloria Arroyo declared a "state of national calamity" and authorized the immediate release of a billion pesos (20 million US dollars) to rehabilitate affected areas.

Local Red Cross official Benjamin Delfin told AFP: "We are receiving donations from international organizations at this point as we continue to estimate the cost of this disaster.

"What we need now are medicines, food and items such as blankets, water and plastic sheeting for those who lost their homes."

The NDCC said humanitarian aid was expected from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United States, while cash was being sent from the United Nations and the governments of Canada and Australia.

more... http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061205/sc_afp/weatherphilippines_061205025939