Search and rescue teams looked for over 800 individuals who went missing in the southern Philippines following devastating flash floods and landslides that destroyed homes, resulting in the deaths of more than 650 people in areas that were not equipped to handle such severe 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 widespread destruction. The Philippine National Red Cross reported that 652 individuals lost their lives in eight provinces in southern Mindanao, with over 800 individuals still unaccounted for. Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the PNRC, stated that their office received numerous requests for assistance in locating missing family members, and they are working with local authorities, the military, police, and other organizations to coordinate search efforts. Floods caused by a typhoon swept away entire homes with families inside in numerous coastal villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. Mayor Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro expressed that this was an unprecedented event for their city during a radio interview. He mentioned that officials were not adequately warned before the typhoon hit. However, the state disaster agency stated that officials and residents were given sufficient warnings three days prior to the typhoon's arrival on Friday. As a result, bodies were piling up and soldiers were building coffins to handle the grim situation, with disaster and health officials facing challenges in managing the aftermath. Some bodies were piled on top of each other in mortuaries that did not 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, during his visit to the severely affected areas in Cagayan de Oro. Binay provided food aid and ordered the evacuation of families residing near waterways and other dangerous locations. Brigadier General Roland Amarille, leading an army task force in Iligan, mentioned that soldiers were deployed to retrieve bodies and construct coffins. Amarille expressed the urgent need for body bags and lime to address the large number of corpses, as he was concerned about the potential spread of disease. He mentioned that local mortuaries are no longer able to accept bodies and are urging people to bury the deceased immediately due to an overwhelming number of bodies, even filling hallways. The majority of the casualties were from a slum area on an island between two rivers in Iligan, where approximately 70 percent of the houses were swept into the sea. Mindanao island, known for its mineral resources and agriculture, is not typically in the path of the 20 typhoons that hit the Philippines annually. Pang emphasized the need to educate people on climate change in order to address these challenges. In just one day, the amount of rainfall typically seen in one month fell. Typhoons usually hit the central Visayas region, as well as the south and east of Luzon, the main island in the north. Carmelita Pulosan, age 42, and her eight family members and neighbors managed to survive by sitting on the tin roof of their house, which drifted miles out into the open sea after floodwater engulfed their village. Fortunately, they were rescued by a cargo ship. Pulosan described the terrifying experience as a deafening sound followed by a sudden rush of water. Pulosan, a resident of Cagayan de Oro, told Reuters that she and her family were swept out to sea by the strong current after finding themselves in the river. She expressed gratitude to God for saving her family, as only one 3-storey building remained standing in their village. Red Cross official Pang stated that both officials and residents were caught off guard by the unexpectedly large amount of water flowing down the mountains into the river systems, as the area is not typically in the typhoon belt. She mentioned that Cagayan de Oro had not seen significant flooding since 2009, when there was minimal damage and no fatalities. Upon returning to their devastated villages, many people discovered their homes had been destroyed. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed readiness to assist the Philippines, a key ally of the United States. A Chinese embassy official announced a donation of $10,000 to aid in the relief efforts. Washi, which has been weakened to a tropical storm with wind speeds reaching 80 km per hour (50 miles per hour), was located approximately 60 km (40 miles) west of Puerto Princesa in the southwest. It is forecasted to exit the Philippine area by late Sunday.