Some artists rescued after 'Ondoy' onslaught
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/27/2009 9:35 PM
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MANILA – Before rescue came, some celebrities have been stranded on rooftops for hours when tropical storm Ondoy (international code name Ketsana) hit the country Saturday.
In a phone interview with ABS-CBN News on Saturday, a very frightened Cristine Reyes tearfully appealed for rescue teams to help her and her family.
“Sana may dumating na rescue kasi kanina pa kami dito ng 1 p.m. Kapag hindi pa tumigil ang ulan aabutin na kami sa roof. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin namin,” Reyes said.
Hours later, her friend, actor Richard Gutierrez, braved the heavy downpour and saved Reyes, her family and her neighbors.
“The Buzz” reported that K Brosas, Jean Garcia and daughter Jennica were also trapped when floodwaters began to rise. They were rescued several hours later.
Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo, meantime, provided aid to Gladys Reyes, husband Christopher Roxas and their children before rescuers came, “The Buzz” reported.
“The Buzz” host Kris Aquino said: “Si Ryan sumulong sa 5-ft of water, trying to swim to bring gatas at pagkain doon sa pamilya.”
Meanwhile, reports said Carmina Villaroel, her husband and children, one of whom is sick, are still trapped in their home in Greenmeadows Subdivision in Pasig City.
The death toll from the onslaught of Ondoy rose to 73 as of Sunday evening, reports from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said. The number of affected people surged to more than 300,000.
The NDCC also said that 5,146 people have been rescued in areas hit by the storm that has affected 337,216 persons.
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