LEGASPI (Philippines): The Red Cross sent out an urgent plea for water, food and medicine on Monday as Philippine officials said more than 1,000 people were dead or missing after mudslides swallowed up whole villages.

The government's National Disaster Coordinating Centre confirmed 425 dead from the mudslides around Mayon volcano trigged by typhoon rains. It listed a further 599 people as missing in the same eastern region of Bicol.

Executive officer Glenn Rabonza said more than one million people had been affected by the disaster with damage to property alone estimated at about USD 5.48 million.

The Red Cross revised its figure on the number dead from 406 to 333 on Monday, saying it had counted some bodies twice, but has warned it expects the toll to rise.

The deadly mudslides were triggered by torrential rains from super typhoon Durain which mixed with volcanic ash on the slopes of Mayon volcano.

President Gloria Arroyo has declared a state of national calamity and authorised the immediate release of USD 20 million to rehabilitate affected areas.

"The situation is still pretty chaotic with communications still down in most of the affected areas on
Bicol," a Red Cross spokesman said.

"Four provinces, including Albay, were badly hit by the typhoon. Our main concern now is fresh water, food and medicines to treat the injured making their way to evacuation centres."

In the village of Maipon men returned to dig out valuables from their homes.