The death toll from Typhoon Koppu in the Philippines rose to 14, officials said Monday, as emergency teams rescued victims stranded by floods and began clearing areas damaged by the storm, dpa reported. In the biggest loss of life reported from a single incident, seven people drowned when a motorboat capsized in choppy seas off Iloilo City, 460 kilometres south of Manila, the coastguard said. The boat had just left port on Sunday when it was battered by huge waves and strong winds. Thirty-two people were rescued, but two were still missing. Koppu slammed into the country early Sunday, displacing thousands, toppling trees and cutting off electricity. More than 20,000 people were displaced, while about 6,530 passengers were stranded after dozens of flights were cancelled and sea travel was suspended.
