Philippine floods toll 652 dead with 808 missing

in safe hands: Volunteers rescue residents trapped in flash floods that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, on Saturday. AP

The devastated port cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Mindanao island accounted for most of the deaths, the agency said.

The head of the government's disaster response agency, Benito Ramos, said their own count stood at 516 deaths and 274 missing. But he conceded that the death toll would likely go higher.