Related: Official: Typhoon casualties in Philippines could attain 200

    MANILA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Friday the different government agencies to undertake massive relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations in the Bicol Region and other areas devastated by super typhoon "Durian."

    "Get the soldiers to help in any of the activities in the relief operations, extension of medical assistance, the cleaning of the roads, the restoration of power, and helping the stranded passengers," said Arroyo during the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) briefing on the extent of damage brought by the typhoon.

    At least 146 people were killed and dozens of others missing as mudslides buried eight villages in Albay province in central Philippines, where "Durian" landed Thursday. Officials said the number of dead could be rising abruptly as many people were buried under the mud in the affected areas near the Mount Mayon volcano in Albay.

    The howler was now heading for the South China Sea and by Saturday would totally be out of the Philippine area of responsibility, said Philippine officials.

    For the first time in history, the country for this year alone had been hit by four successive super typhoons in about three months time.

    Early warnings were undertaken by the government this time for the public to take precautionary measures and make fully operational all evacuation centers in the areas expected to be hitby the typhoon, with some 14,000 people having been evacuated before "Durian" arrived.

    Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they had dispatched health and medical workers to the Bicol region to extend medical assistance to the typhoon victims and evacuees.

    Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said his regional office in the Bicol region immediately activated its road cleaning operations in Albay, the Camarines provinces and Catanduanes.

    Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said that power restoration inthe Bicol Region would start Friday afternoon and that by Saturday some parts of the region will have their power supply back.