Philippine floods toll rises to 652; 808 missing

The death toll from mammoth floods unleashed in the southern Philippines by tropical storm Washi has climbed to 652 with 808 others missing, the Red Cross said on Sunday.

The devastated port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in 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.