Source: http://www.facebook.com/BroMartinFrancisco

Ang mga larawang ito ay mula kay Erwin Macarinas at ng ibang photographers. Layunin ko lang na agad maipaabot sa mas marami ang kalagayan ng mga kapatid nating napinsala para matulungan agad sila sa kanilang abang kalagayan. Tulungan natin silang mga biktima ng bagyong Sendong na nag-ugat sa kapabayaan, kumpyansa at kasakiman.

Recovered Bodies

The floods struck Cagayan de Oro without warning at around 2 a.m.

Correspondent Erwin Mascarinas, who had to flee to a hotel after floods washed away the house where he stayed, tried to cover the catastrophe but ended up having to help rescue persons stranded on rooftops.

In a post on his Facebook wall, Mascarinas reported, “I was up all night covering the flood as it hit several of the barangays all over Cagayan de Oro City. Shot several rescue scenes and evacuation in Gusa. But I almost cried when I witness(ed) a dead 2-year-old child who drowned in Zone 2 Gusa. Hitched in an army truck (that) responded to another call for help in Carmen, but as we passed by Consolacion we were shocked to find out most (of) it was already under water and a lot of people were crying out for help on the other side. I tried to shoot several shots but ending up helping pull … the rope and the people out of the water together with the rescuers and volunteers. Blisters (are) all over my hand(s) after helping out in the rescue. But I later I realized my rented room was under water and I had nothing dry to wear (for) the last 6 hours except for the blanket of the hotel where I’m staying.”

Communications and transportation were paralyzed, signals were abruptly disconnected and people were panicking to get to higher ground.

And, despite what he had just gone through, Mascarinas subsequently posted again: “I will wear my wet outfit again this morning as I go back to the flooded areas … I’m tired, sleepy & a bit traumatized by the pain and suffering that I witnessed but I need to document what is happening out there and hope that next time we would learn from all of this and be more prepared… “

Death toll in flash floods rises to 440; more fatalities expected in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan
17-Dec-11, 8:28 AM | Cong Corrales, Erwin Mascarinas, Carlos Conde, Chichi Conde, Abigail Kwok and Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com, and AFP

See more photos @ https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150427989391606.359942.545901605&type=3

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