24 Dec 2011

Big rise in missing after Typhoon Washi

5:24 am on 24 December 2011

Some 1079 people are still missing in the Philippines, nearly a week after a tropical storm brought devastating floods to the island of Mindinao.

The BBC reports the figure is far higher than the previous estimate of 51 missing, partly because rural families are now reporting that relatives that went to work in cities hit by the storm are still unaccounted for.

Authorities acknowledge that the new figure may also not be accurate because entire families who were killed may still not be accounted for.

The confirmed death toll is currently 1080.

Tens of thousands of others have lost their homes and are living in evacuation centres.