Rescuers are searching for over 800 individuals who are missing in the southern Philippines following flash floods and landslides that swept homes into rivers and the sea. More than 650 people have been killed in areas that were not prepared for such storms. Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities on Mindanao island were the most severely impacted by Typhoon Washi, which struck while residents were asleep, causing water and mud to flood villages and destroy mountainsides. The Philippine National Red Cross reported that 652 people died in eight provinces in the region, with over 800 still missing. Gwendolyn Pang, the secretary-general of the PNRC, stated that their office has been overwhelmed with requests to help locate missing loved ones, and they are working with local authorities, the military, police, and other aid organizations to coordinate search efforts. Flooding caused by a typhoon washed away entire houses with families inside in numerous coastal villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Vicente Emano, the mayor of Cagayan de Oro, expressed that this was the first time such a disaster had occurred in their city, noting that officials did not receive sufficient warning before the typhoon hit. Despite this, the state disaster agency claimed that officials and residents had been adequately warned three days prior to the typhoon's landfall on Friday. In the aftermath, disaster and health officials were faced with the difficult task of handling the numerous bodies that had been recovered, prompting soldiers to construct coffins. Some bodies were piled on top of each other in mortuaries that didn't have enough staff to handle the high number of dead. Vice President Jejomar Binay witnessed bloated bodies of women and children, numbering at least 100, as he visited the hardest hit areas in Cagayan de Oro. Binay provided food aid and ordered the relocation of families living near waterways and other dangers. Brigadier General Roland Amarille, leading an army task force in Iligan, mentioned that soldiers were working to recover bodies and make coffins. Amarille emphasized the need for body bags and lime to manage the large number of bodies and prevent disease outbreaks. He stated that local mortuaries are no longer accepting bodies and are urging people to bury the deceased immediately due to the overwhelming number of bodies, some even being stored in hallways. The majority of the casualties were from a slum area on an island located between two rivers in Iligan. Amarille mentioned that approximately 70 percent of the houses on the island were swept into the sea. Mindanao island, the southernmost in the Philippines, is known for its mineral resources and agricultural output, but is not typically affected by the average 20 typhoons that hit the country annually. Pang highlighted the challenges posed by these events and emphasized the need to educate the public about climate change. In just one day, the amount of rain that typically falls in an entire month came down. Carmelita Pulosan, along with her family and neighbors, managed to survive by clinging to the tin roof of their house as it floated away in the floodwaters. They were eventually saved by a cargo ship after being swept out to sea. Carmelita described the terrifying experience as a loud noise followed by a sudden surge of water. Pulosan, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, shared with Reuters that her family ended up in the river and was carried out to sea by the strong current. Despite the difficult situation, she expressed gratitude to God for saving her family. She also mentioned that their village was mostly destroyed, with only one 3-storey building remaining standing. Red Cross official Pang stated that both officials and residents were caught off guard by the unexpectedly large amount of water flowing down from the mountains into the river systems, as the area was not typically affected by typhoons. She mentioned that the last flooding in Cagayan de Oro occurred in 2009 with minimal damage and no fatalities. Pang reported that many residents returned to find their homes destroyed. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered assistance from the United States, a key ally of the Philippines. Additionally, a Chinese embassy official announced a $10,000 donation to aid in the relief efforts. Washi, which was weakened to a tropical storm with winds reaching 80 km per hour (50 mph), was located approximately 60 km (40 miles) west of the southwestern city of Puerto Princesa. It was projected to exit Philippine waters by late Sunday.