The number of people killed after Typhoon Bopha struck the southern Philippines has risen to 1,020, officials say.
With nearly 850 people still missing, the toll is likely to rise further, Civil Defence chief Benito Ramos said.
The storm struck the Philippines on December 4th, with the southern island of Mindanao worst affected.
Many of those still unaccounted for are fishermen who went to sea before the storm hit.
“The death toll will go higher,” Benito Ramos told AFP news agency.
“We found a lot of bodies yesterday, buried under fallen logs and debris.”
The number of people known to have died now stands at 1,020, the national disaster relief agency said.
The number of people killed after Typhoon Bopha struck the southern Philippines has risen to 1,020
The storm displaced hundreds of thousands of people and caused severe damage to property and infrastructure.
A large relief operation continues.
More than 27,000 people remain in evacuation centres, with many more sheltering at the homes of friends and family.
The Philippines is hit by several typhoons each year but they usually strike further to the north.
Last year, Typhoon Washi left about 1,300 people dead when it struck northern Mindanao, causing rivers to burst their banks.
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The death toll from powerful Typhoon Bopha battering the southern Philippines has risen to about 200, as rescue teams arrive in affected areas.
At least 156 people are known to have died in Compostela Valley province alone when Typhoon Bopha struck eastern Mindanao, local officials said.
Rescuers have reached most areas, but have had difficulty getting to some isolated communities.
Many were evacuated ahead of the storm, now over the western island of Palawan.
Typhoon Bopha is expected to move out into the South China Sea on Thursday.
Compostela Valley province was said to be the hardest-hit area. Neighboring Davao Oriental province was also badly affected, with reports of about 50 people killed.
In Andap village, in Compostela Valley, water and mud rushed down mountainous slopes to engulf a school and a village hall serving as evacuation centres.
At least 43 people were killed there, with more reported missing and injured – including soldiers sent to help with evacuations.
The death toll from powerful Typhoon Bopha battering the southern Philippines has risen to about 200, as rescue teams arrive in affected areas
“The waters came so suddenly and unexpectedly, and the winds were so fierce – that compounded the loss of lives and livelihood,” Compostela Valley Provincial Governor Arturo Uy told Reuters news agency.
He said water catchment basins for farms on top of the mountains had given way because of the torrential rains, sending down large volumes of water.
He added that the cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure in Compostela Valley province could reach at least 4 billion pesos ($98 million), with the typhoon destroying 70-80% of plantations – mostly bananas for export.
Julius Rebucas, whose mother and brother were caught in flash floods in Compostela Valley, said: “The last thing my mother said was <<I love you>>. It’s sad because I no longer have a family.”
Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon said roads to dozens of towns were impassable because of fallen trees and collapsed bridges, and getting into them was like “running an obstacle course”.
She said initial reports indicated that in one town, Cateel, 95% of the buildings had been damaged. Twenty-three people had drowned or were buried under fallen trees or buildings there, she said.
Across the affected provinces, rescuers have also pulled out dozens of people from the mud, many of whom are now being treated in evacuation centres and hospitals. Most suffered facial wounds or limb injuries.
Dozens of domestic flights and ferry services in the central and south of the country were suspended, and schools and businesses were closed while the storm passed.
Bopha comes a year after Typhoon Washi killed more than 1,300 people in the southern Philippines.
The storm devastated the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on the island’s north coast.
Many of those who died were sleeping as Typhoon Washi caused rivers to burst their banks, leading to landslides. Entire villages were washed away.
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More than 40,000 people have been moved into shelter as powerful Typhoon Bopha hits Mindanao island, southern Philippines.
Typhoon Bopha made landfall on Mindanao early on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts of 210 km/h (130 mph).
At least four people died in the storm, which caused power cuts, travel disruption and flooding in areas at risk of landslides.
Bopha comes a year after Typhoon Washi killed more than 1,500 people in the southern Philippines.
On Monday, President Benigno Aquino urged people in the typhoon’s path to take Typhoon Bopha seriously.
“It could be the strongest to hit the country this year,” he said.
“But we can minimize the damage and loss of lives if we help each other.”
More than 40,000 people have been moved into shelter as powerful Typhoon Bopha hits Mindanao island, southern Philippines
In the gold-mining province of Compostela Valley, the extreme weather forced a wall of mud to fall on to a house, killing some of those inside, the Associated Press reports.
Benito Ramos, of the national disaster agency, said the death toll was expected to rise once soldiers and police gained access to the far-flung villages isolated by floods, fallen trees and damaged communications.
According to one report, quoting a military spokesman, about 20 people including six soldiers were missing after fast-moving water swept through an army base.
The eye of the 600-km wide storm was moving west at 26 km/h and was expected to sweep over southern and central provinces before reaching the South China Sea on Thursday, forecasters said.
The Philippines is struck by several typhoons and tropical storms every year.
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