ONDOY death toll hits 246

Officials unable to cope the enormous number of flood victims still pouring into schools, gymnasiums, churches and other makeshift shelters as the death toll from weekend disaster soared to 246.

After words of help spread, hundreds of people converged on the place and received plastic bags filled with noodles and canned sardines.

The death toll jumped after authorities finally recording those killed in Manila, and not just the neighboring regions. The latest toll was 246 over 100 more than Monday's assesment.

 The Department of Health (DOH) is concerned that overcrowding will hasten the spread of water-borne diseases. Monday the DOH has already conducted assessments of some 207 evacuation centers set up in flood-hit areas that showed marked water and hygiene problems.

PREVENT WATER-BORNE DISEASES.
>Wash hands before preparing food and after using the toilet.
>Boiling drinking water for 2 or more minutes or do water chlorination.
>Avoid wading in flood water. If you must, wear a rubber boots.
>Avoid wading and taking baths in flood waters.
>Clean up all possible mosquito breeding sites, such as vases, empty coconut shells, old tires, or tin cans.
>Stay inside a house or building during heavy rains.
>When a flood advisory is issued, residents in low-lying areas should seek higher ground.
>Avoid crossing low-lying areas and bridges during evacuation.

The Comission on Higher Education (CHED) said Wednesday that classes at the tertiary level in Metro Manila and other places under a state of calamity will remain suspended until Saturday.

Colleges and Universities are being encouraged to become centers that will receive aid and donations to help the typhoon victim. The CHED also announced that nursing students and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets would be asked to report to help in government's clean up drive and relief operations in devastated areas.

By Tuesday tonnes of food aid as well as foreign experts were on their way to the Philippines.

After admitting it could not cope on its own, the government on Monday appealed to the international community for help.
Among the first nations to respond, Australia, the United States, France and Japan said they had sent pledged support for relief efforts.

Vietnam also suffering the strength of ONDOY (ketsana) from the Philippines now at least 22 people killed after it slammed into central Vietnam on Tuesday, and caused almost 170,000 people flee their homes.