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Death toll rises as cyclone smashes Philippines

The death toll from a cyclone in the Philippines has doubled in the past 24 hours to eight.

More than 200,000 people have been affected after four days of heavy rains brought by Cyclone Saola.

At least five provinces remain flooded, and tens of thousands of people are battling neck-deep floods.

A state of emergency has been declared in ten towns in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan, while seven provinces remain under a storm alert.

Residents in the northern province of Bataan have complained of insufficient relief supplies.

Meteorologists say the rains will continue until Thursday, as the cyclone heads towards Taiwan.

Civil defence chief Benito Ramos says 145,000 people have been evacuated.

"It will take about four or five days for the waters to recede, assuming the rains stop now. But if it continues to rain, then naturally, these floodwaters will get even higher," he told AFP news agency.

Schools in some suburban Manila areas and in nearby provinces remained suspended on Tuesday, but workers were forced to wade in floods as they struggled to report for work.

Three more people drowned, another was killed by a falling tree while a fifth was electrocuted while crossing a submerged bridge, adding to the three deaths reported on Monday.

Benito Ramos says rescuers were also searching for four fishermen still missing after two days at sea.


- ABC

© ABC 2012

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