Philippines rescue workers step up search for storm survivors | World news | guardian.co.uk

Philippines rescue workers step up search for storm survivors | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Philippines rescue workers step up search for storm survivors

Government declares 'state of calamity' after tropical storm Ketsana brings worst flooding for four decades

* Associated Press
* guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 September 2009 12.50 BST
* Article history

Floods in Manila brought by Tropical Storm Ketsana

A Filipino boy is carried to safety through floodwaters in Manila. Photograph: Jay Directo/AFP

Rescuers in the northern Philippines today increased their efforts to rescue people left stranded after a tropical storm brought the area's worst flooding in more than four decades.

The government declared a 'state of calamity' in metropolitan Manila and 25 storm-hit provinces after tropical storm Ketsana brought more than a month of rain in 12 hours yesterday.

The decision allowed officials to utilise emergency funds for relief and rescue, the defence secretary, Gilbert Teodoro, said."