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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S. troops bring aid to stricken Philippines

Residents wade through floodwaters as they go on with their daily business at Dagupan city, north of Manila, Philippines, on Saturday. The Philippines are reeling from back-to-back storms that dumped record rains.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines – The U.S. military trucked in supplies and marshaled helicopters and Navy ships as the Philippines struggled with the aftermath of back-to-back storms that have left more than 600 dead.

After pulling six people from landslides late Thursday and early Friday, Filipino rescuers said they remained hopeful of locating more survivors in the north of the country, but retrieved only bodies on Saturday.

With roads blocked and bridges washed away, the Philippine government’s resources have been stretched thin. Officials have asked U.S. troops in the country for an annual military exercise to extend relief operations.

Tropical Storm Ketsana dumped record rains Sept. 26, displacing about 1 million people and killing 337 in Manila and surrounding provinces.

Then Typhoon Parma struck Oct. 3 and has lingered as a tropical depression for about a week, also over the main northern Philippine island of Luzon. It has dumped more heavy rains, triggering floods and landslides that have killed at least 276 people, most of them in the last two days.