Typhoon Fengshen kills 17 in Philippines

[MiniMe]

I have seen all sorts of reports on the overturned ferry, but not much about the typhoon itself. About the ferry, I don't understand why a ferry would be allowed to leave for a 20 hour trip with a typhoon approaching. I have added some pics I pulled from BBC, the floods there are devastating.

Obviously, this country has been focused on Iowa and the Mississippi flooding, as it should be. But I don't think we can totally ignore this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080622/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/philippines_typhoon

By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer
Sat Jun 21, 10:14 PM ET



MANILA, Philippines - Navy and coast guard ships battled huge waves and strong winds Sunday to reach a stranded ferry carrying more than 740 people after Typhoon Fengshen battered the country killing 17.

Rescue vessels aborted an initial attempt Saturday to get to the MV Princess of Stars after it ran aground near Sibuyan island, but efforts resumed amid stormy weather Sunday, coast guard chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.

Fengshen lashed the central Philippines for about four hours Saturday, setting off landslides and floods, knocking out power, and blowing off roofs from houses.

Packing sustained winds of 74 miles per hour and gusts of up to 93 mph, the typhoon shifted course Sunday to the northwest and battered the capital Manila at dawn, chief government forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said.

In southern Maguindanao province, at least 14 people drowned in flash floods Saturday, including 10 who were swept away from riverside homes, said provincial administrator Norie Unas. Five others were missing.

[malaise]

1. The BBC report yesterday had over 100 dead

without counting those missing on the ferry.

[MiniMe]

2. And the ferry is really the only thing that I hear in the MSM

That flooding looks unbelievable.

[malaise]

3. That's a disaster in and of itself

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7468493.stm



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7467735.stm
Typhoon pix