Some 14-hundred people are dead or missing in the southern Philippines due to severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Washi.

Most deaths have been recorded on the island of Mindanao and some 35-thousand people have lost homes.

Residents are fatigued and starving as they have been cut off from water, electricity and telephone service due to Washi.

Water levels are falling but people are still awaiting rescue in a large number of flooded villages.

Some 20-thousand troops are searching for the missing and engaged in relief work, but their numbers are apparently not large enough.

The Philippines has been tormented by a series of natural disasters this year including around 20 typhoons and storms.