Typhoon toll rises: 475 dead, many homeless in Philippines
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Residents clean their sofa next to their damaged house in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley, on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. -- PHOTO: AFP
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his picture taken on Dec 5, 2012 shows a Red Cross volunteer (centre, bottom) giving first aid to a seated rescued soldier (left) in the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, in southern Philippines on Dec 5, 2012. At least 325 people were killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines following the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6, 2012. PHOTO: AFP
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Children retrieve their books and other belongings from their damaged home on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012, a day after powerful Typhoon Bopha hit Monte Vista town, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing hundreds of people and forcing thousands to flee from inundated villages. PHOTO: AP
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This picture taken on Dec 5, 2012, shows residents looking at their damaged house in the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, southern Philippines. At least 325 people were killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines following the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
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Medicines are distributed to residents, all victims of the devastating flash flood that hit the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing scores of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. -- PHOTO: AP
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Rosalinda Pasko tearfully breaks the news to a relative of the death of her two of her family members in the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing scores of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. PHOTO: AP
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A woman sorts out clothes in front of her damaged house in Monte Vista town, Compostela Valley province, on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
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Philippine soldiers aboard a military truck patrol as they look for survivors amidst ruins in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on Dec 5, 2012, a day after the powerful Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
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A woman walks among debris next to her damaged house in the village of Andap, New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
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Residents cross a damaged road destroyed at the height of Typhoon Bopha in the village of Andap, New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on Dec 5, 2012. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
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This photo released by the Tactical Operations Group 11 of the Philippine Air Force shows an aerial view of a swollen river due to torrential rains from Typhoon Bopha in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, in southern Philippines on Dec 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing hundreds of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. PHOTO: AP/PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE
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A worker surveys destroyed banana trees at a plantation in Monte Vista town, Compostela Valley province, on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. The death toll from a typhoon that ravaged the Philippines jumped to 325 on Dec 5 with hundreds missing as rescuers battled to reach areas cut off by floods and mudslides. PHOTO: AFP
Residents clean their sofa next to their damaged house in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley, on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. -- PHOTO: AFP
his picture taken on Dec 5, 2012 shows a Red Cross volunteer (centre, bottom) giving first aid to a seated rescued soldier (left) in the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, in southern Philippines on Dec 5, 2012. At least 325 people were killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines following the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6, 2012. PHOTO: AFP
Children retrieve their books and other belongings from their damaged home on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012, a day after powerful Typhoon Bopha hit Monte Vista town, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing hundreds of people and forcing thousands to flee from inundated villages. PHOTO: AP
This picture taken on Dec 5, 2012, shows residents looking at their damaged house in the aftermath of Typhoon Bopha in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, southern Philippines. At least 325 people were killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines following the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
Medicines are distributed to residents, all victims of the devastating flash flood that hit the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing scores of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. -- PHOTO: AP
Rosalinda Pasko tearfully breaks the news to a relative of the death of her two of her family members in the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing scores of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. PHOTO: AP
A woman sorts out clothes in front of her damaged house in Monte Vista town, Compostela Valley province, on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
Philippine soldiers aboard a military truck patrol as they look for survivors amidst ruins in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on Dec 5, 2012, a day after the powerful Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
A woman walks among debris next to her damaged house in the village of Andap, New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
Residents cross a damaged road destroyed at the height of Typhoon Bopha in the village of Andap, New Bataan town, Compostela Valley province on Dec 5, 2012. At least 325 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing in the Philippines from the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year, the civil defence chief said on Dec 6. PHOTO: AFP
This photo released by the Tactical Operations Group 11 of the Philippine Air Force shows an aerial view of a swollen river due to torrential rains from Typhoon Bopha in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, in southern Philippines on Dec 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Tuesday, killing hundreds of people while triggering landslides, flooding and cutting off power in two entire provinces. PHOTO: AP/PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE
A worker surveys destroyed banana trees at a plantation in Monte Vista town, Compostela Valley province, on Dec 5, 2012, a day after Typhoon Bopha hit the province. The death toll from a typhoon that ravaged the Philippines jumped to 325 on Dec 5 with hundreds missing as rescuers battled to reach areas cut off by floods and mudslides. PHOTO: AFP
NEW BATAAN, Philippines (AFP) - Nearly 200,000 people were homeless and 475 confirmed dead after the Philippines' worst typhoon this year, officials said on Thursday, as the government appealed for international help.
Typhoon Bopha ploughed across Mindanao island on Tuesday, flattening whole towns in its path as hurricane-force winds brought torrential rain that triggered a deadly combination of floods and landslides.
Mr Erinea Cantilla and her family of six walked barefoot for two days in a vain search of food and shelter through a muddy wasteland near the mountainous town of New Bataan after the deluge destroyed their house and banana and cocoa farm.
"Everything we had is gone. The only ones left are dead people," she said as her husband, three children and a granddaughter reached the outskirts of the town, which itself had been nearly totally obliterated.
