Typhoon death toll climbs to 647 in Philippines

MANILA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government on Monday reported that the death toll from typhoon Bopha (local name Pablo) has climbed to 647.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ( NDRRMC) also reported that 1,482 people have been injured while 780 people are still missing.

The NDRRMC said the typhoon affected 5.4 million people in 30 provinces, mostly in central and southern Philippines.

The initial report released by the agency said the typhoon damaged infrastructure facilities valued at almost 3.48 billion pesos (84.99 million U.S. dollars).

The agriculture department also said the typhoon destroyed crops valued at 8.6 billion pesos (210.1 million U.S. dollars) in southern Philippines. Hardest hit were banana and corn plantations.

The severe damage inflicted by the typhoon prompted Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to place 50 areas in western, central, and southern Philippines under a state of calamity.

Typhoon Bopha was the strongest of the 16 typhoons that have hit the Philippines this year.