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Reuters
Typhoon survivor Carlos Agang lies on a stretcher after he was found alive Thursday.
Updated at 2 p.m. ET: NEW BATAAN, Philippines – Rescue workers found a 54-year-old man clinging to a boulder by a river – injured but alive – two days after a powerful typhoon ravaged the south of the Philippines.
At least 420 people were killed and nearly 400 are missing, The Associated Press reported Thursday, citing Philippines authorities.
All Carlos Agang had to eat was coconut and water until he was found in a tattered shirt with a fractured leg and bruises by a group of rescue volunteers in New Bataan town in Compostela Valley, the province worst hit by Typhoon Botha. Reuters initially reported he was 77, but later corrected his age.
"I can't believe it. I didn't expect to see people survive two days after they were swept by flood and mud," fire volunteer Mark Roman Jumilla told Reuters.
"For two days, he survived on coconut and water. He lost his family when floodwaters swept a temporary shelter area where he and his family sought refuge," Jumilla said.
Rescuers also found a pregnant woman on the other side of the river with her one-year son after escaping floods that swamped their house after Typhoon Bopha hit land on Tuesday.
"It happened so fast. Water came rushing to us while we were leaving our house to move to safer grounds," Lenlen Medrano, 23, told Reuters as she was being carried by soldiers in a stretcher.
"I prayed hard over and over until we found ourselves on the riverbank," she added.
A Reuters photographer saw four bodies near the spot where Agang was rescued. The river's current was strong, making it hard for rescue teams to reach other survivors.
'Entire families were washed away' as Typhoon Bopha hits
The death toll could rise further, with local government officials reporting hundreds missing.
An intense, powerful typhoon has cut across the Philippines triggering landslides and flash floods on the island of Mindanao. ITN's Jane Deith reports. Warning: The story contains some disturbing images.
PhotoBlog: Grief amid Bopha's destruction
About 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, often causing death and destruction. Almost exactly a year ago, Typhoon Washi killed 1,500 people in Mindanao.
Arturo "Arthur" Uy, governor of Compostela Valley, said search and rescue operations were continuing, particularly in far-flung areas in New Bataan town, where a three-year old child was plucked from under a crumpled house on Wednesday, more than 24 hours after the typhoon made landfall. The child's mother and a sibling are missing.
Erik De Castro / Reuters
Rescuers on Thursday evacuate a pregnant woman with her child who survived flooding in New Bataan, Philippines.
"I believe we can rescue more people," Uy told Reuters. "We evacuated people from riverbanks and shorelines. But the floods and strong winds battered not just the riverbanks but also places where residents were supposed to be safe."
A few residents in Compostela Valley started repairing their houses, but for majority, rebuilding will not be easy.
"I don't know what to do now," coconut farmer Roger Calarian told Reuters while queuing for a rice ration at the center of New Bataan town. "I lost my house, I lost my livelihood. I want to rebuild my hut but I don't think I have the energy to do that now."
Calarian said he and his wife were lucky to have survived when coconut trees crashed on their house on Tuesday. "We prayed, hugged each other until the winds calmed down, and then we crawled out to safety," he added.
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When I was in the Philippines on the Island of Cebu a few years ago I got to go through a typhoon, and they're not fun. Condolances to the wonderful people of the Philippines who have been affected by this typhoon, and those who have lost loved-ones.
Keep Up ..Stay Strong..
The Poorest of The Poor..of The World..
Have Our Sympathy,..Our Prayers...And Our Humble Help..
The Philippiine People have been Our Friends...and will always have Our respect and empathy ..in our hearts...
I will always remember your inspiration,your kindness,..and your smiles
In my memories..of walks ..in your mountains.your jungles, and by your seas..
Maraming,Maraming,..salamat po
sinangayon
I went through a typhoon, 8.1 earthquake and the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. I thought the whole island was going down in a giant whirlpool. It amazes me of the tenacity of the philappinos. They always bounce back. You haven't seen poor until youve been to the Philippines.
Seriously it is no joke over there.
This one time I was stuck in a dead end job and recently diagnosed with a deadly disease. Some rich fat cat republican offered me the chance of a lifetime. I could sacrifice myself to save an island of people by appeasing their god and jump into the island's volcano.
So long story short I took the job the yacht chartered to take me to the island was struck by lightning and sunk. The female captain and myself were saved by lashing together the very expensive steamer trunk luggage I brought along. The beautiful captain and myself managed to wash ashore the island we were originally destined for (what luck) fell in love and were married by the island cheif.
I had full intentions of honoring my obligation by sacrificing myself to the island god and jumping into the volcano. My new bride not wanting to be seperated from me joined me in the sacrifice.
As we jumped to our sacrificial deaths the volcano exploding shooting us clear of the now sinking island (what luck). My trusty luggage made it through the sinking of the island and we were eventually rescued by a passing ship.
Oh never mind that was just a really bad movie with really good actors I watched in the 90's
I don't think it's a tropical Disease..
You Probably got your Mad Cow Disease from OCCU=PLOP Wall street..
Your sidewalk Feces Fresco was done before you washed your hands and or brain
Hey don't knock my comment just because no one is praising and commenting on your own personal sidewalk feces fresco J. Peterman oops I mean aliblahblah.
ooouch...Your ego got hurt..go put that Occu-plop stuff on it...it's full of leeches..
check back to read your comments..hahahahahhaah
aliblahblah,
You are quite a piece of work. You post what I am certain you want readers to believe is a heartfelt homage to the Philippine People. Shortly after you feel the need to knock someone else's comment. Why the need for you to come at another poster is your own personal weight to bare.
Since that person was me why don't we break down the central theme of your witty put down-Occupy
How you have tied me to Occupy is a mystery. I can only speculate that you took my benign "fat cat republican" comment as an indictment of my social and political views.
I am not a member and I am not aware of the current official Occupy agenda. What I understand Occupy was founded to fight against is social and economic inequality, corporate greed and exploitation of the masses by the few.
It would seem your beloved Philippine People "the poorest of the poor" would be exactly the class of people Occupy is trying to help. In this case Occupy is trying to raise awareness to a group of people you claim to care deeply for. Your vehemence against Occupy seems unjustified.
Since you took the lead in jumping to conclusions about another's character I will follow suit.
Your comments lead me to two possible conclusions about you. Either you really do not care as much about the Philippine People as you would like people to believe (don't think it is this one) or you are nothing more than a pompous wind bag with an overinflated sense of self worth.(sounds like the one to me)
In any event my suggestion to you would be this- stick to boring your family and friends at parties and spare the rest of us your arrogant sense of importance.
Since you have announced your intention to check back for my comment I will assume you have read this.
"We evacuated people from riverbanks and shorelines. But the floods and strong winds battered not just the riverbanks but also places where residents were supposed to be safe."
sorry to talk about it but.... climate change anyone? i know the article says 100's of typhoons a year...but the above quote is a little unnerving. just saying....
Thankyou undersecretary of spin Don Quixote...
Has Secretary-Chu-on-This.......... released your talking points..?