Philippines seeks typhoon aid, battles to avoid backlash

Philippines seeks typhoon aid, battles to avoid backlash: "

MANILA, Sept 27



— The Philippines appealed for international aid to help tens of thousands marooned by flashfloods, and apologised for the delays in rescue efforts to avoid potential political fallout from the crisis.

Disaster officials said the death toll from Typhoon Ketsana that hit the main island of Luzon stood at 52 on Sunday and more than 20 others were missing feared dead.

“We’re doing our best to get to all those people still trapped by the flashflood,” Anthony Golez, spokesman for the National Disaster Coordinating Council, told reporters, adding soldiers in rubber boats would evacuate them to safety.

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