Powerful typhoon hits Philippines

Residents cross a river at the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines on Dec. 5, 2012. Typhoon Bopha, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines this year, barreled across the country's south on Dec. 4, killing over 300 people and forcing more than 50,000 to flee from inundated villages.

Children wait for a ride to spend the night at an evacuation center a day after Typhoon Bopha swept through the area, in the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines on Dec. 5, 2012.

Residents retrieve belongings at the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

Rosalinda Pasko tearfully breaks the news to a relative of the death of her 2 of her family members at the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

A resident loses his balance as he looks at the extent of the devastation brought by the flash flood at the height of Typhoon Bopha that hit the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

Medicines are distributed to residents, all victims of the devastating flash flood that hit the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

Residents walk to an evacuation center after retrieving their belongings at the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

Children retrieve their books and other belongings from their damaged home, Dec. 5, 2012, a day after powerful Typhoon Bopha hit Montevista township, in the Compostela Valley in southern Philippines.

A resident looks at the devastation brought about by the flash flood that hit the village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

A woman carrying her child wades through a flooded road brought about by heavy rains due to Typhoon Bopha, as she evacuates to a safer place, in Pantukan town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

A soldier surveys the devastation brought about by Typhoon Bopha at the flash flood-hit village of Andap, New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines, Dec. 5, 2012.

A child stands near his family's damaged house, Dec. 5, 2012, a day after powerful Typhoon Bopha hit Montevista township Compostela Valley in southern Philippines.

Banana trees destroyed by Typhoon Bopha are seen at a plantation in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

A resident carrying his pet dog wades through a flooded street due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bophal in Cagayan de Oro City, southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Residents walk amongst their destroyed houses after Typhoon Bopha hit Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

A family rest inside a classroom used as temporary shelter, after authorities evacuated residents due to Typhoon Bopha in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

A man looks at his damaged house destroyed by strong winds brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Residents gather their belongings after their house was destroyed by strong winds brought about by Typhoon Bophal in Cagayan de Oro City, southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Residents watch as a river rises near their homes due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bophal in Cagayan de Oro City, southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

A man looks at the dead bodies of relatives killed by landslides due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Bopha in Compostela town, Compostela Valley province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Residents gather their belongings after their house was destroyed by strong winds brought about by Typhoon Bophal in Cagayan de Oro City, southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Residents brave heavy rains next to a tilted electric post after Typhoon Bophal hit the city of Tagum, Davao del Norter province, in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

A boy rides on a makeshift raft made from banana tree as he makes his way through their flooded home after heavy rans and strong winds brought about by Typhoon Bophal hit Pantukan town, Compostela Valley province in southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Workers clear a road with a fallen tree after Typhoon Bophal hit the city of Tagum, Davao del Norter province, on the southern island of Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012.

Relatives cross a river to bury their loved one, who died in a flash flood caused by Typhoon Bopha, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard carry relief goods for victims of flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha in Davao province, while loading their ship in Manila, Philippines on Dec. 6, 2012.

Residents, impacted by Tuesday's storm, line up for relief supplies at an evacuation center, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines.

Flash flood victims wait for relief supplies at an evacuation center following Tuesday's devastating typhoon, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines, Dec. 6, 2012.

A list of missing residents is prepared to be posted on a wall as residents, impacted by Tuesday's typhoon, line up for relief supplies, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines.

Rescuers continue to retrieve bodies of flash flood victims three days after powerful Typhoon Bopha, in the remote New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Friday, Dec. 7, 2012.

Residents, their faces covered with masks, stand next to coffins of deceased relatives who died during flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha, at the former public market in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province on December 8, 2012. Hungry and homeless typhoon survivors appealed for help as the ravaged southern Philippines mourned hundreds of dead.

A family carrying food relief for victims of Typhoon Bopha walks amongst boulders and rocks along a river as they head for home in the village of Andap in the town of New Bataan in the Compostela Valley province of the Philippines, on December 8, 2012. Hungry and homeless typhoon survivors appealed for help as the ravaged southern Philippines mourned hundreds of dead, and desperate people in one hard-hit town looted shops in search of food.

Rescuers use a chainsaw to cut logs as they look for dead bodies, victims of flash flooding at the height of Typhoon Bopha, during retrieval operation in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province on December 7, 2012 in the Philippines.

A resident carrying a bag full of relief goods walks amongst typhoon debris as she heads for her home in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province on December 7, 2012. President Benigno Aquino vowed action on the Philippines' typhoon recovery efforts.

AP Photo/Malacanang Photo Bureau, Jay Morales

In this photo taken Dec. 7, 2012 and released by the Malacanang Photo Bureau, mudflow is seen covering a town after flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha hit Compostela Valley, southern Philippines. Rescuers were digging through mud and debris to retrieve more bodies strewn across the southern Philippines farming valley by the powerful typhoon. The death toll from the storm has surpassed 600, with more than 400 people missing.

Workers clear debris inside a church swept in by flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha, in the village of Andap in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province, the Philippines, on December 8, 2012.

A rare cloud formation is seen amidst destroyed banana plantation four days after Typhoon Bopha left hundreds of people killed and rendered extensive damage to agriculture at Montevista township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following the typhoon that killed at least 600 people and left several hundred more missing and tens of thousands homeless have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday.

A typhoon victim rebuilds his damaged house near a sign asking for aid for victims of Typhoon Bopha, at Maparat township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following Typhoon Bopha that killed at least 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday.

Relatives cry upon seeing the remains of their relative at a damaged public market which serves as a makeshift mortuary for Typhoon's Bopha's victims, at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012.