School tables, chairs found under rubble in Leyte

Rescue teams on Wednesday noon unearthed school chairs and tables, giving a shimmer of hope that the Guinsaugon Elementary School in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte could finally be located. Joint personnel from the Philippine and US troops dug up the chairs and tables when they transferred to another area after days of digging at another part of the rubble with few encouraging signs. Volunteers had been searching for the school, which was holding school activities at the time of the tragedy, when local residents received text messages from the teachers buried under the mud and rocks. Geologists from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University helped mark the school’s location with the use of their detection equipment. Local authorities said rescuers might still have to dig up some 30 meters of mud to save the school teachers and students. President Arroyo went to Saint Bernard Wednesday morning to inspect the Barangay Ginsaugon and visit the survivors. She stayed at the disaster command post for an hour where Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias and Director General Arturo Lomibao, Philippine National Police chief, update her on the situation in the area. Lerias said some 96 bodies and 11 body parts were recovered by the rescuers. Arroyo ordered the immediate study on the dangerous areas in the province for the immediate evacuation of the residents and to avoid similar tragedies.-GMANews.TV