Typhoon Washi struck the region of Mindanao on December 16, blanketing the area with heavy rain and high winds.  Floods washed away entire houses in dozens of coastal villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

The Philippine Red Cross on December 18 put the death toll at 652, with more than 800 missing. Secretary General Gwen Pang said on December 17 many of the bodies remained unclaimed after nearly 24 hours, suggesting that many entire families had died.

Much of the rescue effort was focused on land, but authorities say rescuers had used small boats to pick up several survivors along the coast.

Government officials say unlike other parts of the Philippines, the Mindanao region was rarely hit by such severe storms. Many of the victims were asleep when they were swept away.

Thousands of soldiers and police have joined in the rescue efforts, hampered by blocked roads and a lack of working electricity.

Officials say tens of thousands of people have been rendered homeless.