Bopha kills at least 300, hundreds missing

December 06, 2012: More than 300 people have been reported dead and at least 200 others remain missing as heavy rain and strong winds brought by Typhoon Bopha ravaged much of the southern Philippines today.

People were killed in eight provinces but eastern Mindanao was worst-hit. In Compostela Valley province alone at least 184 people died, many when flash floods hit emergency shelters. "We have 325 dead and this is expected to rise because many more are missing," civil defence chief Benito Ramos told a news conference early on Thursday. "Communications are bogged down, there is no electricity, roads and bridges have been destroyed," he said. "We're still on a search-and-rescue mode."

The National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organization, meanwhile, called on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to open its parishes and churches in Mindanao to shelter tens of thousands of people left homeless by Typhoon Bhopa. The group appealed to the bishops "to instruct the archdioceses and dioceses, social action centers, local churches and parishes in opening the gates of heaven for those who need protection and shelter of the Church."

Fernando Hicap, the federation's chairperson, said the failure of the government to provide enough shelters for flood and disaster victims prompted the organization to appeal for help from the bishops. "Ordinary and poor people are living in life threatening conditions, and we hope this situation merits the attention of the CBCP leadership," Hicap said.