Over 40 killed after Typhoon Melor hits Philippines

                    Children using a refrigerator as a boat                 (C)AFP

Over 40 people have died after typhoon and subsequent tropical depression cause widespread flooding in the Philippines. Heavy rains continue to pummel the Philippines, threatening to aggravate flooding that has prompted the government to declare a state of "national calamity". The death toll after a week of devastating weather has risen to 41, according to confirmed reports from national and local disaster monitoring agencies.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau forecasted cloudy skies with moderate to occasional heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao, Bicol region, Central and Eastern Visayas, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon. These may trigger flash floods and landslides, according to the Philippines state news agency (PNA). President Benigno Aquino declared a state of "national calamity" to speed up relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas hit by Typhoon Melor and to control the prices of basic commodities, the Philippines Star reported.

"All departments and other concerned government agencies are hereby directed to coordinate with, and provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected local government units," Aquino was quoted as saying.
Aquino also directed law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to ensure peace and order in affected areas, the Philippines Star added.
The Philippines, which sees an average of 20 typhoons a year, is planning to build typhoon-resilient structures and to relocate residents living in danger zones to areas considered safer based on studies by local and international organisations.

Source: Aljazeera