MANILA, Dec 21 (dpa): Typhoon-devastated parts of the Philippines appealed for more help on Tuesday amid warnings of looting as communities struggled with a lack of drinking water, food and temporary shelter.
The death toll from the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year was at 375, according to police data.
More than 480,000 people were displaced by Typhoon Rai in central and southern provinces, where its fierce winds flattened thousands of houses, damaged infrastructure, and triggered floods and landslides.
Even evacuation centres were damaged in many of the affected areas, Public Works Secretary Roger Mercado said.
"Some people are just staying along roads now," Mercado told ABS-CBN News television from the eastern province of Southern Leyte.
"We really need all the help we can get," he added. "That’s why I’m calling on all good-hearted people, during this time of Christmas, please send water, blankets, construction materials, anything."
In the island province of Bohol, where 96 fatalities were reported, provincial governor Arthur Yap said he has received reports of looting by desperate victims.
"Please send the food packs now or if not, I’m asking President (Rodrigo) Duterte to please send in police and soldiers because there are already reports of untoward incidents in some towns," he said.
"The small shops along the road were the first to be hit... but you can't blame the people," he added. "The situation is controlled for now, but I don't know until when."
"It’s Christmas soon, please take pity on the typhoon victims," Yap said.
Vice President Leni Robredo has also called for more donations after visiting the affected areas.
"Let us not allow others to celebrate Christmas without anything to eat, without a place to live, and without hope," Robredo said in a live post on Facebook.
"This is your call to action. We who are lucky, let us send our love to them," she added.
Authorities were also working with electricity and telecommunication companies to repair facilities and restore supply and connection to the affected areas.
According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), 12 towers and 600 steel poles were downed by Rai, mostly in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Southern Leyte.
"We cannot give yet a restoration schedule for these areas," said Cynthia Perez Alabanza, spokeswoman for the NGCP.
The Philippine archipelago is hit by an average of 20 tropical cyclones every year.
The strongest typhoon to ever hit the Philippines was Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 and displaced more than 4 million people in November 2013. - dpa
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