The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) meanwhile reported that storm “Sendong” had left the Philippine area of responsibility and good weather would prevail in the next five days.
Casualties could go as high as a thousand in what could be the strongest storm to hit Mindanao since 1980, according to Science Secretary Mario Montejo.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang said most of the fatalities were children and women.
“It’s overwhelming. We didn’t expect these many dead,” said National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chief Benito Ramos.
Brig. Gen. Roland Amerille, deputy commander of the 1st Infantry Division and ground commander of the ongoing search and retrieval operations in Iligan City, reported yesterday that troops have recovered 279 bodies since Sunday.
Maj. Julio Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division, citing latest updates from the city disaster official report in the flood-stricken Cagayan de Oro, said 336 bodies have been recovered by combined military and police search teams.
The other fatalities as reported by the NDRRMC came from Bukidnon with 17 dead, five from Mt. Diwalwal, Compostela Valley, one in Surigao del Sur, four from Lanao del Sur, 38 in Negros Oriental, one in Cebu and three from Zamboanga del Norte.
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