Philippine floods toll 652 dead with 808 missing

MANILA, Philippines—The death toll from mammoth floods unleashed in the southern Philippines by tropical storm Sendong (international name: Washi) has climbed to 652 with 808 others missing, the Red Cross said Sunday.

The devastated port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Mindanao island accounted for most of the deaths, the agency said.

The head of the government’s disaster response agency, Benito Ramos, said their own count stood at 516 deaths and 274 missing. But he conceded that the death toll would likely go higher.