The death toll rose to more than 500 as rescuers Sunday plucked bodies from the sea after floods devastated two southern Philippine cities and nearby areas, civil defence and Red Cross officials said. Soldiers, coast guard teams, local rescuers and volunteers scoured the waters off the southern cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan for survivors of the floods triggered by Tropical Storm Washi. "It's overwhelming," said Benito Ramos, administrator of the Office of Civil Defence (OCD). "There are so many missing. Many were swept to the sea and some of the bodies probably sank and will take days to float. It will take some time to complete this task." Washi slammed into the southern Philippines Friday, dumping torrential rains that caused rivers to overflow.
