Arroyo tours mud-stricken villages

PHILIPPINES – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered stepped-up recovery efforts Tuesday as she consoled some of the families of the estimated 1 000 people who died in mudslides set loose by a powerful typhoon.

Arroyo, wearing a black shirt and trousers, embraced weeping widows, trying to comfort them as they told her stories of how walls of mud destroyed their homes, sweeping away family members. One woman hugged the president, telling her how she saw one of her children and her husband being swept away after they fell from a roof.Arroyo also visited Guinobatan, one of the worst-hit areas of Albay province, where entire villages disappeared under tons of mud and volcanic debris that cascaded down the slopes of the Mayon volcano last Thursday.She also thanked countries and agencies that have provided relief aid and money.Official figures showed 450 dead, 643 injured and 636 missing, but Sen.Richard Gordon, head of the national Red Cross, said he believed more than 1 000.Nampa-APOne woman hugged the president, telling her how she saw one of her children and her husband being swept away after they fell from a roof.Arroyo also visited Guinobatan, one of the worst-hit areas of Albay province, where entire villages disappeared under tons of mud and volcanic debris that cascaded down the slopes of the Mayon volcano last Thursday.She also thanked countries and agencies that have provided relief aid and money.Official figures showed 450 dead, 643 injured and 636 missing, but Sen.Richard Gordon, head of the national Red Cross, said he believed more than 1 000.Nampa-AP