238 dead, hundreds missing in Philippines typhoon
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Residents retrieve their belongings after their house was destroyed by a fallen tree caused by Typhoon Bopha in Cagayan de Oro City, southern Philippines, on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A family rests inside a classroom used as temporary shelter after authorities evacuated residents of Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, due to Typhoon Bopha that hit the Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Workers clear a highway of toppled trees after Typhoon Bopha made a landfall in Compostela Valley in southeastern Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A resident carrying his pet dog wades through a street that's flooded due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Cagayan de Oro city, southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Residents watch as a river rises near their homes due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bophal in Cagayan de Oro city, on southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A girl cleans a religious statue of mud after landslides hit their home due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A man looks at his damaged house destroyed by strong winds brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Residents evacuate to safer grounds in anticipation of Typhoon Bopha in Butuan city in south-eastern Philippines Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines this year, has killed at least 74.-- PHOTO: AFP
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Residents gather to check the list of relief supplies at an evacuation center for typhoon victims in Butuan city in southeastern Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Residents walk back to their homes after Typhoon Bopha made landfall in Compostela Valley in southeastern Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Residents walk around their destroyed houses after Typhoon Bopha hit Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. Bopha, one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines this year, has killed at least 74. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Banana trees destroyed by Typhoon Bopha are seen at a plantation in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. The deaths raised the toll from one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines this year to at least 74. -- PHOTO: AFP
Residents retrieve their belongings after their house was destroyed by a fallen tree caused by Typhoon Bopha in Cagayan de Oro City, southern Philippines, on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A family rests inside a classroom used as temporary shelter after authorities evacuated residents of Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, due to Typhoon Bopha that hit the Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Workers clear a highway of toppled trees after Typhoon Bopha made a landfall in Compostela Valley in southeastern Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A resident carrying his pet dog wades through a street that's flooded due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Cagayan de Oro city, southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Residents watch as a river rises near their homes due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bophal in Cagayan de Oro city, on southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A girl cleans a religious statue of mud after landslides hit their home due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A man looks at his damaged house destroyed by strong winds brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Residents evacuate to safer grounds in anticipation of Typhoon Bopha in Butuan city in south-eastern Philippines Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines this year, has killed at least 74.-- PHOTO: AFP
Residents gather to check the list of relief supplies at an evacuation center for typhoon victims in Butuan city in southeastern Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Residents walk back to their homes after Typhoon Bopha made landfall in Compostela Valley in southeastern Philippines on Dec 4, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Residents walk around their destroyed houses after Typhoon Bopha hit Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. Bopha, one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines this year, has killed at least 74. -- PHOTO: AFP
Banana trees destroyed by Typhoon Bopha are seen at a plantation in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012. The deaths raised the toll from one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines this year to at least 74. -- PHOTO: AFP
NEW BATAAN, Philippines (AFP) - The death toll from a typhoon that ravaged the Philippines jumped to 238 on Wednesday with hundreds missing, as rescuers battled to reach areas cut off by floods and mudslides.
Typhoon Bopha slammed into the southern island of Mindanao on Tuesday, toppling trees and blowing away homes with 210kmh gusts before easing and heading towards the South China Sea.
A total of 142 people died in and around the mountain town of New Bataan, a gold-rush settlement that was ravaged by flash floods and landslides, regional military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lyndon Paniza said.
"What's scary is that 258 people are still missing there," Lt-Col Paniza told AFP.
