Storm ‘Bopha’ hits Tawi-Tawi
The Manila Times - August 11, 2006
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Tropical storm Bopha left a trail of destruction in the southern island of Tawi-Tawi, where rescuers were searching for a still undetermined number of people reported missing, officials said on Thursday. Officials said some 1,000 houses built on stilts were destroyed by huge waves and strong winds that battered three villages the past two days.
“We are still searching for those who are missing. We are trying to find out how many people are missing, but some 1,000 houses were destroyed by the storm,” Albert Que, the mayor of Bongao, told reporters in Zamboanga City.
“Many people left homeless by the storm are staying in mosques, schools and gyms, and we need more provisions,” Que said.
Que said social workers have distributed rice and noodles in evacuation centers. “We still don’t know the exact number of evacuees, but our concern now is to find the missing and feed all these people,” he said.
The weather bureau said Bopha was headed for Taiwan.
--Al Jacinto
