The death toll from tropical storm Washi (or local name Sendong) in the Philippines rose to 497, with 162 others still missing, the Philippine Red Cross said Sunday.

Two men search for useful things after the tropical storm Washi hit the place in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao Island in southern Philippines, Dec. 18, 2011. The death toll from tropical storm Washi (or local name Sendong) in the Philippines rose to 497, with 162 others still missing, the Philippine Red Cross said Sunday. (Xinhua/Liu Xigao)
Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon and his team will leave for Mindanao Island in southern Philippines on Monday to personally assess the aftermath of the flashflood.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said in its report issued at Sunday noon that the death toll from typhoon Washi has climbed to 332, with 281 missing and 7 injured.

The tropical storm has made another landfall near Puerto Princesa city in Palawan and is now heading toward the South China Sea. 

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet