Death toll from Typhoon Rai surges to 381 in Philippines

The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has surged to 381, as desperate survivors pleaded for urgent supplies of drinking water and food, reported from  the foreign media.

The Philippine Red Cross reported "complete carnage" in coastal areas after Super Typhoon Rai left homes, hospitals, and schools "ripped to shreds".

At least 56 are missing in the latest disaster to hit the archipelago, with 500 more injured, the national police said.

There are fears widespread landslides and flooding may have claimed more lives.

Super Typhoon Rai - with winds of about 195km/h (120mph) - sent some 400,000 people running for safety when it hit the country's south-eastern islands

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