Multinational tent city rises on buried Philippine village

PHILIPPINES: Red-helmeted Malaysian firemen wearing orange camouflage gear, Taiwanese rescuers in fiery jumpsuits and US Marines in green fatigues mingle with Spanish dog handlers and Filipino troops.

A multinational army of soldiers and specialists has descended on what was once a peaceful farming village in the central Philippines, in the aftermath of the deadly landslide that engulfed Guinsaugon.

Clusters of tents dominate a site on the fringes of Guinsaugon on Leyte island where rescuers rest, eat and clean up before venturing into the morass of mud that was once the village. US and Philippine soldiers, waving green and red flags, direct traffic to the site and keep out curious rubber-neckers.

With the mosaic of tents, the fluttering of national flags and banners and crowds of men and women in multicolored dress, the operations center could almost appear festive - were it not for the grim task the workers face.

Philippine army Colonel Nestor Sadiarin says about 1,700 people are now posted at the center, including about 400 foreigners.About 100 bodies have been recovered so far and as many as 1,400 are missing. Many rescuers say there is no hope for survivors almost a week after the tragedy, and the operation is increasingly becoming a search for the dead.

Guinsaugon, Thursday, AFP