Typhoon death toll in Philippines rises to 35

Philippine authorities said Thursday that the death toll from Typhoon Nesat had risen to 35, and would likely climb further with dozens of others missing two days after the storm walloped the country.

  

Residents salvage housing materials from a Manila Bay community that was destroyed by storm surges unleashed by Typhoon Nesat. (AFP Photo/Jay Directo)

 

Office of Civil Defense administrator Benito Ramos said that flood waters had been slowly subsiding, although large areas remained submerged, particularly vast tracts of farm lands.

 

"We have recorded 35 deaths, and rescuers are using rubber boats and canoes to help those in areas still flooded," Ramos told AFP.

 

The death toll was 13 more than the last figure reported late Wednesday.

 

Ramos said soldiers, police and other rescue personnel had been working non-stop to help those affected, but with 45 still listed as missing, the death toll would climb.

 

"We are just praying that we will find them still alive, but realistically speaking, the number of deaths may still rise," he said.

 

Ramos said many of the missing were fishermen who set sail ahead of the storm despite warnings to remain on land.

 

Nesat smashed into the Philippines' main island of Luzon on Tuesday, bringing heavy rains and wind that caused storm surges and massive flooding.

 

- AFP/cc