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Philippines rescuers hear 'signs of life'
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-21 08:36
Rescue workers refused to give up hope of finding survivors in an elementary
school buried by up to 100 feet of mud, digging into the night Monday after
detecting what the provincial governor called "signs of life."
Sounds of scratching and a rhythmic tapping were picked up by seismic sensors
and sound-detection gear brought in by US and Malaysian forces.
A US Marines from
the 3rd Marines Expeditionary Unit throws a big rock as they join members
of the Taiwanese and Filipino rescue group during the search and recovery
operation for landslide victims Monday, Feb. 20, 2006 in Guinsaugon
village, in the island province of Leyte central Philippines. The US
Marines who were diverted from their joint military exercise in Jolo were
joined by rescuers from Taiwan and Malaysia. A total 74 bodies were
recovered so far but officials estimating those who perished in the
landslide to be 1,500 including about 200 school children.(AP Photo/Pat
Roque) | "To me, that's more than enough reason
to smile and be happy," South Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias said. "The adrenaline is
high ... now that we have seen increasing signs of life."
Still, it was hard to imagine survivors under the wet muck nearly four days
after a mountainside collapsed and covered the farming village of Guinsaugon,
killing up to 1,000 people. No one has been pulled out alive since just a few
hours after the disaster Friday morning.
The search has focused on the school because of unconfirmed reports that some
of the 250-300 children and teachers may have sent cell phone text messages to
relatives soon after the disaster Friday.
Under the glare of generator-powered lights, a multinational group of troops
and technicians used high-tech gear like seismic sensors and sound- and
heat-detection equipment alongside shovels and rescue dogs. They finally halted
about 3 a.m. Tuesday until daybreak.
A US military spokesman said late Monday that US Marines digging at the site
had found bodies, but no survivors.
"I asked had they received or found any type of survivors, and the answer was
no," US Marine Capt. Burrell Parmer said after speaking to the commander of U.S.
forces at the disaster site.
The statement discounted an earlier report by Philippine Interior
Undersecretary Marius Corpus that US Marines had found 50 survivors. There was
no immediate explanation for how the false report had spread.
"There is a lot of rubble, a lot of large boulders," Parmer said. "On some
sides near the river, it's very moist, very soft soil, and you can get stuck up
to ... your waistline if you're not careful."
Still, the Marines were eager to discover the origin of sounds detected by
seismic sensors.
"The farther down we went, the signals grew stronger," US Marine Lt. Richard
Neikirk said as he pointed to a spot under a big boulder.
A Malaysian team using sound-detection gear picked up noises, too.
"We have a sound," said Sahar Yunos of the Malaysia Disaster and Rescue Team.
"Knocking, something like that."
A rescue dog also stopped three times at one spot away from where rescue
workers were digging.
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