Tropical Storm Sendong has moved out to sea, but the death and destruction in the Philippines remains to be tallied. The storm remained over the southern portion of the island nation from Dec. 16-18, with moderate winds and heavy rain. NASA reported rainfall at a rate of 2 inches per hour for much of Dec. 17-18. Winds ranged from 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 50 mph. It was the 17th tropical storm to strike the Philippines this year.
The flash floods affected much of the southern Philippines but the northern portion of the island of Mindanao suffered the most damage. The latest injury, deaths and damage report from the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reveals the following:
* 48 evacuations centers holding 45,181 people.
* 662 storm related deaths.
* 1,582 storm related injuries.
* 82 people remain missing.
The number of dead, injured and missing varies by report. Reuters states Tropical Storm Sendong may have killed 684 people. They quote the Philippines Red Cross as estimating the number of missing from the storm at over 800. Associated Press gives a storm related death toll of 927 people.
The Council identified three environmental concerns that appear to have contributed to the loss of life. Deforestation, mining activities and heavy silting in local rivers all appear to have increased the runoff, flash floods and river flooding. The Council suggests that areas at greatest risk of flooding be identified and their inhabitants relocated.
The track of Tropical Storm Sendong crossed much of the region of Mindanao where several terrorist organizations are operating. Philippine military units in the region have been quick to respond to the flooding. It is unclear how the disaster may affect the operations of the various armed groups including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The island of Mindanao has the largest concentration of Moslems in the primarily Roman Catholic nation.
The government of the Philippines does not use the internationally established names for tropical cyclones. Tropical storm Sendong was named Tropical Storm Washi by the international weather community. The storm has weakened and is now off the coast of southern Vietnam.




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