Rescuers are searching for over 800 individuals who went missing in the southern Philippines due to flash floods and landslides. The disasters swept houses into rivers and out to sea, resulting in the deaths of more than 650 people in areas that were not well-prepared for such storms. The cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Mindanao island were severely affected by Typhoon Washi, which hit while residents were asleep, causing water and mud to rush through villages and leave mountainsides bare. The Philippine National Red Cross reported that 652 people were killed in eight provinces in the southern Mindanao region, and over 800 are still missing. Gwendolyn Pang, the secretary-general of the PNRC, stated that their office received numerous requests for help in locating missing relatives, and they are working with local government, army, police, and other aid agencies to coordinate search efforts. Floods swept away entire homes with families inside in numerous coastal villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Mayor Vicente Emano expressed that this was an unprecedented event for their city in a radio interview. He mentioned that local officials were not given sufficient warning before the typhoon hit. The state disaster agency, however, stated that proper warnings were issued to both officials and residents three days prior to the typhoon's arrival on Friday. Soldiers were working to construct coffins as bodies continued to accumulate, posing challenges for disaster and health authorities. Some bodies were piled on top of each other in mortuaries that did not have enough staff to handle the large number of dead. Vice President Jejomar Binay witnessed bloated bodies of women and children, numbering at least 100, during his visit to the severely affected areas in Cagayan de Oro. Binay provided food aid and ordered the relocation of families living in dangerous areas. Brigadier General Roland Amarille, leading an army task force in Iligan, mentioned that soldiers were tasked with retrieving bodies and constructing coffins. Amarille expressed the need for body bags and lime to prevent the spread of disease due to the high number of corpses. He mentioned that local mortuaries are no longer accepting bodies and are urging people to bury the dead immediately due to the overwhelming number of corpses, some even being stored in hallways. The majority of the deceased were from a slum area on an island between two rivers in Iligan, where approximately 70 percent of homes were swept into the sea. Mindanao, the southernmost island in the Philippines known for its minerals, rice, and corn production, typically does not experience the average 20 typhoons that hit the country each year. "This presents challenges for us ... We must educate the public about the changing climate," Pang added. The amount of rain that typically falls in a month occurred within a single day. A cargo ship rescued Carmelita Pulosan, along with her family members and neighbors, after they were stranded on top of their tin roof when floodwaters swept through their village. Pulosan, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, told Reuters that her family ended up in the river and were carried out to sea by a strong current. She expressed gratitude to God for saving them, as only one 3-storey building remained standing in their village. Red Cross representative Pang stated that both officials and residents were caught off guard by the large amount of water flowing from the mountains into the river systems, as the area is not typically affected by typhoons. She mentioned that Cagayan de Oro had not seen significant floods since 2009, with minimal damage and no casualties. Many residents returned to find their homes destroyed in the aftermath. Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, expressed readiness to assist the Philippines, a key ally. The Chinese embassy announced a $10,000 donation to aid in relief efforts. Washi, which has been weakened to a tropical storm with wind speeds reaching up to 80 km per hour (50 miles per hour), was located approximately 60 km (40 miles) west of the southwestern city of Puerto Princesa. It is forecasted to exit Philippine waters by late Sunday.