SWEPT AWAY

Death Toll Rises in Philippines Typhoon

At least 83 dead in Luzon storm.

At least 83 people are dead and thousands evacuated after Tropical Storm Ketsana slammed the Philippines, causing the worst flooding the country has seen in 42 years. The government has declared a state of calamity and the country's Red Cross is warning that the death toll could reach "several hundred," according to Bloomberg. At least one town is completely underwater. About 16.7 inches of rain fell on the city of Manila in just 12 hours Saturday. Residents were seen perching on roofs as the flooding swept away houses. Christina Esguerra, 31, said she only narrowly escaped being dragged away by the waters. “I’m lucky someone managed to pull my hair,” she said. “The current was so strong, my feet were no longer touching the ground, my face was in the water and I even drank some.”