Typhoon death toll rises to over 560 in Philippines

MANILA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from typhoon Fengshen went up to 568 in the Philippines on Thursday, according to the latest report released by the country's disaster-relief agency.

Besides 70 people confirmed dead due to the capsizal of an ill-fated ferry, the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council said on Thursday morning that another 498 fatalities have been reported from all parts of the typhoon affected areas.

The M/V Princes of the Stars capsized off the Philippines' central province of Romblon last Saturday at the height of the typhoon, with 862 passengers and crew on board.

Of the 498, 221 have been identified while 277 are unidentified, the agency said in the report.

Search and rescue operations inside the ship and in neighboring coastal provinces are still going on, said Glen Rabonza, Office of Civil Defense Administrator of the disaster-relief agency.

"We are still on rescue mode. We may still find some who may have floated in their life vests. We are not giving up," Rabonza said.

At least 59,616 houses were destroyed, while 118,851 were damaged by the typhoon, the report said.

Estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture rose to 5.513 billion psos (124 million U.S. dollars).