As expected, the fatalities in Friday's super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) battering the Philippines yielded more deaths higher than the previous day's three victims. Although the reports are unofficial, GMA News witnessed the death count rise in Tacloban City and Palo town in Leyte is 53, bringing to 56 the total death toll caused by the strongest typhoon to hit the world in 2013.

YouTube/GMA News

GMA reporter Jiggy Manicad recounted that from their coastal post in Tacloban City, 11 people, including a child, were washed away by the raging sea. He described the 200 kph winds that whipped the area as like the news team were inside a washing machine.

On his way to link up with another GMA reporter, Love Anover, in Palo, they saw dead bodies by the roadside, counting at least 10 corpses and another 12 in a church near Tacloban.

Mr Manicad also said another 20 people were washed ashore while lined up in a pier.

Ms Anover sought shelter in a church in Palo where at least 20 bodies washed up on the shore were brought. The problem is compounded by funeral parlors in the town had also been destroyed by Yolanda's wrath.

Officially, the latest report of the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council dated Nov 8, Friday, listed three dead people, identified as Bing Guiamelon Ukoman, 1-year-old Datu Puti Ukoman and 8-year-old Baby Doren.

Meanwhile, reports from Twitter said that 80 per cent of Baco, Oriental Mindoro is inundated and the rice fields have been destroyed.

DZMM placed the number of stranded passenger as of 4 am of Saturday at 3,398 from 76 vessels and 8 motor bancas.

ABS-CBN reported that the Bucayao River in Calapan has started to overflow and the raging water is on its way to Poblacion.

GMA added that telecommunication companies had deployed repair crews to the affected provinces.

Latest report from the weather bureau said that Yolanda is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by 2 pm, Saturday, to exit 760 km west of Iba, Zambales by evening.

RELATED STORIES