An elderly woman examines her destroyed house after Typhoon Durian hit Batangas city, south of Manila, Dec. 1, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

MANILA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Over 200 people are feared dead as typhoon Durian battered Albay province, central Philippines, with heavy downpour that caused mudslides from Mount Mayon volcano, a top government official said Friday.

    Health Secretary Francisco Doque informed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that he got reports from the field offices about the demise of around 220 residents of Daraga and Sto Domingo towns and Legaspi city as of Friday noon.

    Doque said Albay Governor Fernando Gonzales is requesting for additional body bags to store the fatalities. He said he has made available around 200 body bags presently being kept at the regional health office in the region.

    Gonzales told a television interview that at least 108 persons have been already confirmed dead. He said search and rescue operations are still ongoing to account a number of people who could have been trapped in the mudflows.

    Mudflows caused by a powerful typhoon killed 146 people with scores more reported missing in several villages in Albay province, central Philippines, the Philippine National Red Cross said.

    When presiding over a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Arroyo said the initial reports of deaths incurred from the typhoon reveals that it is indeed a strong typhoon comparable to cyclone Katrina in the United States two years ago.

    Arroyo also praised forecast made by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) which served as basis for NDCC and other attached government issues to issue advisories as early as Nov. 28.

    Officials of the energy sector said entire Bicol region and the provinces of Quezon and Batangas south of Manila are suffering from blackout due to destruction of electric lines by Durian.

    Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the red cross, said 95 bodies were recovered while 51 more people were confirmed killed in two villages in Legazpi City.

    Meanwhile, the report added that a total of 130 people were trapped and reported missing in several affected barangays.

    Durian is the third super typhoon to have hit the Philippines in two months' time. Two other super typhoons, Xangsane and Cimaron, hit Metro Manila and northern Luzon in late August and October respectively, killing at least 200.

    Disaster officials said a total of 2,840 or 13,928 people were evacuated from 16 municipalities and three cities in Bicol and Southern Tagalog, all in central Philippines.

    To the relief of officials, Durian, stronger than both Xangsane and Cimaron, spared the heavily populated Metro Manila this time in a last minute change of direction Thursday night, although heavy rain falls hit Manila early Friday without causing flood or casualties so far.

    Philippine Coast Guard lifted Friday a ban on sea travel as Durian is leaving the country toward South China Sea.

    As of 11:00 a.m. local time (03:00 GMT), Durian was spotted 50 kilometers southwest of Lubang Island, 100 kilometers southwest of Manila, with maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It was moving west at a slow pace of 15 kph.

    PAGASA forecasts said Durian will be over South China Sea by Saturday morning and out of the country's area of responsibility by Sunday.

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