Philippines storm death toll hits 650

The death toll from the tropical storm that slammed the Philippines reached 650 and at least 800 others were missing, officials said Sunday. The BBC reported that in addition to those reported dead by the Philippines Red Cross, rescuers were searching the southern part of the country for 370 missing people. Nearly 35,000 people were staying in evacuation centers Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Red Cross Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang said Cagayan de Oro was the hardest-hit area with at least 239 people dead. Nearby Iligan reported 195 deaths and the remainder died in other southern and central provinces, she said. "This thing happened so fast, it was very overwhelming," she said. Along with some 20,000 soldiers, the navy combed the sea off the coast searching for survivors. The BBC said about 60 people were reported to have been rescued from the ocean near El Salvador city. Weather forecasters said Tropical Storm Washi had 59 mph winds and brought more than a month's worth of rain in just 12 hours over Mindanao. It also struck during high tide, worsening the coastal flooding. The storm was in line to hit Vietnam by Tuesday, forecasters said.