‘Sendong’ death toll jumps to nearly 1,500–OCD

MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from flash floods that swept away entire villages in the southern Philippines has climbed to nearly 1,500 as authorities widen their search for bodies.

Army troops belonging to 64th IB look into the wrath of nature brought about by typhoon Sendong in Iligan City Saturday. RICHEL V. UMEL/INQUIRER MINDANAO

The Office of Civil Defense’s latest tally Tuesday listed 891 dead in Cagayan de Oro and an additional 451 in nearby Iligan city. The rest came from several other provinces. Most of the dead are unidentified.

Civil Defense head Benito Ramos said decomposing remains were retrieved floating in the sea as far as 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the two cities where a December 16 tropical storm unleashed more than a month’s worth of rainfall in 12 hours, sending walls of water gushing into homes.

Ramos said the search would continue as long as bodies were being recovered.