Philippine Red Cross Emergency Alert: Tropical Storm Sendong! Donate P100 to the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong today!

As Tropical Storm “Sendong” ravaged Mindanao with devastating rains and triggered flash floods, 436 people have been confirmed dead. The hardest struck cities with the highest recorded fatalities are Iligan City, Cagayan De Oro City, Compostela Valley and Zamboanga del Norte.

Flash floods consumed Iligan City the night of December 16 after the heavy downpour of rains for ten hours straight, affecting 4,783 persons, leaving 235 injured and 500 totally damaged houses. In Cagayan De Oro, 11 barangays and 790 families are affected, 70 houses damaged, with approximately 2,000 persons now housed in evacuation centers. 79 are confirmed dead, 100 missing and 30 injured. In Zamboanga del Norte, 3 were reported dead, 218 families affected, and 180 houses partially or totally damaged. Prior to the onslaught of Sendong, about 143 persons had already evacuated their houses which were destructed by flash floods affecting the municipality of Polanco as well as Dipolog and Dapitan cities. Dapitan River had overflown early this morning which have flooded several barangays in Dapitan.

Philippine Red Cross maintains strict 24-hour monitoring of all situations in Mindanao, while conducting detailed assessments in close coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. Search and rescue teams have been mobilized. Hot meals have been prepared and distributed in evacuation centers. Welfare desks have been situated. Non-food items such as sleeping mats, mosquito nets, blankets and water have been prepositioned. PRC staff and volunteers are on standby for further intervention.

Sendong is the 19th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year. As we continue to wage this battle against disasters, we are in need of immediate cash assistance to provide ongoing relief and recovery efforts for all affected communities. We are appealing for your support to be able to continue to provide food, non-food items and our services to the most vulnerable in the hardest hit cities and provinces. We appreciate your generosity and continued support to the G-Team and the Philippine Red Cross.