Typhoon Rai has killed 208 people according to a report by a national police spokeswoman on Monday after the storm wreaked havoc in the Phillippines central and southern regions
According to police statistics, 52 people were remained missing as rescue work proceeded following one of the worst typhoons to hit the Southeast Asian country.
BBC reported that the police have been mobilised for relief operations and to ensure order in calamity stricken areas, national police spokesperson Roderick Alba said.
The number of injuries reported by police was significantly greater than the 58 deaths reported by the national disaster organisation up to this point. According to the organisation, it is still checking information from impacted areas.
More than half of the deaths recorded by police occurred in the central Visayas area, which includes the province of Bohol, which is home to some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, including dive sites.
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap reported 74 fatalities in his province on Sunday, citing fragmentary reports that he said were validated by both the health department and local government authorities.
Relief efforts have been accelerated, but they have been impeded by damage to communication and electricity lines, which have yet to be restored in many devastated places.
Before moving into the South China Sea over the weekend, Rai had displaced about 490,000 people in the Philippines, leaving massive devastation in the provinces of Cebu, Leyte, and Surigao del Norte, including the renowned Siargao surfing destination and the Dinagat Islands.
President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to release around 2 billion pesos ($40 million) to typhoon-affected areas to aid with recovery operations.
