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A woman has been rescued after spending four days clinging to debris as she was washed 560 miles out to sea by storm Vinta.

The crew of a cargo ship spotted Diana Salim, aged 25, from Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, at 3am today (December 25).

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After being rescued she was taken to a hospital in Antique suffering from dehydration and severe sunburn.

Salim was among the thousands affected by the onslaught of storm Vinta, which caused devastation across much of Mindanao. So far, more than 240 have been confirmed dead due to floods and landslides, and about 100,000 displaced.

Salim’s incredible tale of survival against the odds was shared with RMN DXRZ radio.

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Still clearly in shock, Salim told the station that she was with family inside their house in Barangay Anungan when flood waters crashed into their home on Friday evening.

“My family and I were inside the house preparing for evacuation when a massive flood swept our house,” she said.

Anungan is a small fishing village about eight miles from Sibuco town, and only accessible by water.

She described how the waves totally destroyed the family home, which was built of wood and bamboo. Amid the destruction, she was able to grab onto part of the structure as she was washed out to sea.

“There was nothing to eat,” she said. “I could only drink rainwater.”

Salim still does not know what happened to her parents and the rest of her family.

Sibuco mayor Norbideiri Edding said the woman’s remarkable tale of survival had inspired rescue workers.

“Diana’s rescue kept our hopes up that we will see others alive,” he told the radio station.

Edding confirmed that Salim’s family were still counted among the missing in the aftermath of typhoon Vinta.

“But… after the rescue of Diana, there could be some still alive,” he added.

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