STATE OF CALAMITY DECLARED

A state of national calamity has been declared by Philippines' president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The archipelago has been hit hard with 4 typhoons the past 4 months. However, Typhoon Durian (Typhoon Reming, in the Philippines), has been the most devastating; its devastating winds and rains have struck the recently erupted Mayon volcano. Through massive flooding and volcanic mudslides, the typhoon and volcano combination has left thousands injured, missing, or dead, and has displaced tens of thousands more, and affected hundreds of thousands throughout the Philippines.

• 1,000 Feared Dead From Typhoon - NYTimes
• Typhoon Reming --Philippine Inquirer.
• Typhoon death toll may be 'thousands' - CNN