``The husband of the mayor was on a verandah but in the next instant, he vanished because of that wave,'' he said.
Welfare secretary Dinky Soliman said the president has asked her to provide more than the usual ration of food -- sardines, rice and noodles -- and try to find ways of easing the pain of the victims.
Arroyo did not go ahead with a plan yesterday to travel to Leyte, about 640km southeast of Manila, after officials warned the trip would be very risky, Ermita said.
"I'm deeply saddened that the tragedy struck them just before Christmas," Arroyo said.
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