Over 200 dead after typhoon slams Philippines

The death toll rose to more than 200 following the strongest typhoon to batter the Philippines this year, with 52 people still missing and several central towns and provinces grappling with downed communications and power outages and pleading for food and water.

Fallen electric pylons block a road while a sign asking for food (L) is displayed along a road in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte province, Dec. 19, 2021, days after super Typhoon Rai devastated the city.

Houses damaged by Typhoon Rai are seen, in Surigao del Norte province, Philippines, Dec. 18, 2021.

A couple on a motorcycle speeds past destroyed houses in General Luna town, Siargao island, Surigao del Norte province, Dec. 17, 2021.

Local tourists take shelter under uprooted trees outside the airport in Del Carmen town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province, Dec. 19, 2021, as they await their flight out, days after Super Typhoon Rai devastated the island.

In this photo provided by the Office of the Vice President, a man checks his home damaged due to Typhoon Rai on the Dinagat islands, southern Philippines, Dec. 19, 2021.

In this photo provided by the Office of the Vice President, Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo, (R), comforts a woman after inspecting damages due to Typhoon Rai on the Dinagat islands, southern Philippines, Dec. 19, 2021.

Aerial view showing damaged houses in Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte Province, Philippines, Dec. 17, 2021.

An armed policeman stands guard while his colleagues clear a road of debris in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte province, Dec. 19, 2021.

A handout photo made available by the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines (OVP) shows a toppled electric post and debris along a road in the typhoon devastated town of General Luna, Siargao Island, Philippines, Dec. 19, 2021.

Residents take shelter in a cultural center turned into an evacuation center after Super Typhoon Rai passed in Isabela town of Negros Occidental province, Dec. 17, 2021.

Residents try to salvage belongings next to destroyed houses along the coast in Ubay town, Bohol province, in central Philippines, a day after Super Typhoon Rai devastated the town, Dec. 17, 2021.

A handout photo made available by the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines (OVP) shows a villager standing next to a damaged house in the typhoon devastated island of Dinagat, Philippines, Dec. 19, 2021.

Motorists queue up for gas up at a fuel station in Cebu City, Dec. 18, 2021.

This photo provided by the Office of the Vice President shows a damaged building due to Typhoon Rai on the Dinagat islands, southern Philippines, Dec. 19, 2021

This aerial handout photo taken Dec. 17, 2021 and received from the Philippine Coast Guard shows damage caused by Super Typhoon Rai after the storm crossed over Surigao City in Surigao del Norte province.

A handout photo made available by the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines (OVP) shows a villager standing next to debris at a coastal village in the typhoon devastated town of General Luna, Siargao Island, Philippines, Dec. 19, 2021.

Residents stand in a flooded area in the coastal town of Guiuan, central Philippines' Eastern Samar province, Dec. 16, 2021

This aerial handout photo taken Dec. 17, 2021 and received from the Philippine Coast Guard shows damaged caused by Super Typhoon Rai after the storm crossed over Surigao City in Surigao del Norte province.

Residents salvage belongings from their destroyed houses at Talisay in Cebu province, Dec. 17, 2021.

A resident bathes her child next to their destroyed house in Carcar, Philippines' Cebu province, Dec. 18, 2021.

Aftermath of Typhoon Rai is seen in Dimiao, Bohol province, Philippines, Dec. 17, 2021.

Residents inspect their destroyed house in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte province, days after super Typhoon Rai devastated the city, Dec. 19, 2021.

Motorists speed past fallen electric pylons along a highway in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte province, days after super Typhoon Rai devastated the city, Dec. 19, 2021.

People stand inside a sport complex building whose roof collapsed at the height of Super Typhoon Rai in Dapa town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province, Dec. 16, 2021.