‘Ondoy’ death toll now 280 - NDCC

The death toll from tropical storm "Ondoy" (Ketsana) went up to 280 as of late Thursday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said. In a 3 p.m. report posted on its Web site Thursday night, the NDCC also said 42 remained missing while five were reported injured.

NDCC said that of the 280 fatalities, 123 were from Metro Manila, 50 from Central Luzon, three from Cordillera, and 104 from Southern Luzon. On the other hand, the NDCC said damage to property was estimated at P5.072 billion, including P1.855 billion in infrastructure and P3.217 billion in agriculture. At least 2,972 houses were destroyed while 2,228 were damaged. The NDCC said "Ondoy" has so far affected 626,625 families or 3,079,231 people in all regions of Luzon, Western Visayas, Regions 9, 12, and even the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Sympathies Expressions of sympathies for the storm's victims, meanwhile, continue to pour - from Moro rebels in Mindanao to Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom. British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie conveyed the Queen's sympathies to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the UK embassy said in a statement. "I was saddened to hear of the devastation and tragic loss of life caused by the flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. Please accept my condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives. My thoughts and prayers are with you and those affected at this difficult time," the Queen said. Brown similarly sent his condolences to people affected by floods in the Philippines. “I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the people of the Philippines. All of us watching these scenes will be shocked and saddened at the sheer scale of the devastation. We stand ready to help in any way we can," he said. One with grief In Mindanao, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest secessionist organizations in the country, offered prayers for the victims of the storm. "Let there be no doubt that we feel as well the tremendous grief and sufferings of the victims of this tragedy, even as we offer prayers and hopes that they shall overcome with pride this ordeal," said Muhammad Ameen, chairman of the MILF Central Committee Secretariat. Ameen's statement was posted on the group's Web site. - GMANews.TV