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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2014)
ASIA / PACIFIC Page 16 n THE ASIAN REPORTER June 2, 2014 Philippine refugee tent fire kills mother, five kids MANILA, The Philippines (AP) — An overnight fire razed a tent used as a temporary shelter by survivors of Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda), killing a woman and five of her children, including a four-month-old girl, according to officials in a central Philippine city devastated by the massive storm. The tragedy highlights the slow progress in the resettlement of tens of thousands of survivors of the disaster, which struck more than six months ago and is one of the world’s strongest typhoons to make landfall. The fire was caused by a kerosene lamp and quickly consumed the canvass tent just after midnight, Tacloban city disaster management officer Derrick Anido said. The shelter was one of 40 in a “tent city” in San Jose district, which was wiped out by tsunami-like storm surges and fierce winds from Typhoon Haiyan in Novem- ber. The five children who died in the fire ranged in age from four months to 12 years old, Anido said. The woman’s seven-year- old son, the lone survivor, was fighting for his life in a government hospital. “It happened around 12:20 ... but it was TERRIBLE TRAGEDY. A tent city for typhoon survivors is seen in Tacloban city, central Philippines, in this November 23, 2013 file photo. An overnight fire razed a tent used as a temporary shelter by the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda), killing a woman and five of her children, according to officials. The tragedy highlights the slow progress in the resettlement of tens of thousands of survivors of the disaster, which struck more than six months ago and is one of the world’s strongest ty- phoons to make landfall. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) so fast that by 12:30 it was over,” Anido said, adding that everyone was sleeping when the fire broke out. “Unfortunately, after surviving (the typhoon), they were killed in a fire.” Tacloban is still trying to recover from the devastation wrought by the typhoon, which barrelled through the central Hairdo USA Free new patient exam, necessary x-rays & consultation Danh Yard & Garden Service COMPLETE HAIR CARE & NAIL CARE t Haircu Men's 7 $7.7 Specializing in: Implants Implant supported denture Cosmetic dentistry Full mouth reconstruction Expires More than 22 years of experience Dr. Sean Kim (503) 722-9184 1607 Beavercreek Road Suite 200 Oregon City, OR 97045 www.beavercreekdental.net Philippines, killing at least 6,300 people and displacing more than 4 million. “The problem is that so many people are still living in tents and we have been saying all along that these tents are fire hazards,” Anido said. “And we have been requesting (the national government) to relocate them to safer shelters.” He said only 1,000 temporary houses made of wood with galvanized iron roofing had been built so far, while 14,000 families in the city still live in vulnerable coastal villages and need to be relocated. Anido also said the site where the tents donated by the United Nations are located is prone to flooding. “It is almost June and it will soon be rainy season in Tacloban, and this will again be a problem,” he said. 14 7/31/20 Mowing - Edging Maintenance - Pressure Washing Gutter Cleaning - Fall Leaf Clean-up Weed & Debris Removal - Trimming & Hauling Seasonal Yard Clean-up - Bark Dusting Mulching - Thatching Lawns Open seven day/week: 10:00am - 7:00pm Walk-ins welcome! (503) 788-3635 8028 SE Powell Blvd., #102, Portland, OR 97206 Dien Danh dien_danh@yahoo.com | (503) 810-4454 AVAILABLE NOW In-Town moves from w TRUCKS $19.95 w TRAILERS w HITCHES w AUTO TRANSPORTS Plus Mileage 503-538-2008 RESERVE one now First United Engineering