Deadly floods in the Philippines

Residents stand among debris after Tropical Storm Washi raked through Iligan City on the southern island of Mindanao on December 17, 2011.

Flash floods devastated a southern Philippines region unaccustomed to serious storms, killing more than 400 people while they slept, rousting hundreds of others to their rooftops, and turning two coastal cities into muddy, debris-filled waterways that were strewn with overturned vehicles and toppled trees.

Two women hold their children killed during the passage of Tropical Storm Washi at a village in Iligan City, on the southern island of Mindanao on December 17, 2011.

Most of the victims were asleep Friday night when raging floodwaters cascaded from the mountains after 12 hours of rain from a late-season tropical storm in the southern Mindanao region. The region is unaccustomed to the typhoons that are common elsewhere in the nation of islands.

Filipino soldiers line up corpses of victims of Tropical Storm Washi at a village in Iligan City, on the southern island of Mindanao on December 17, 2011.

A resident walks past vehicles submerged in floodwaters after Tropical Storm Washi raked through Iligan City on the southern island of Mindanao on December 17, 2011.

A woman holds the dead body of her child who died during floods caused by Tropical Storm Washi at a village in Iligan City, on the southern island of Mindanao on December 17, 2011.

Police use a rubber boat to ferry trapped residents following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

Mayor Lawrence Cruz of nearby Iligan said the coast guard and other rescuers were scouring the waters off his coastal city for survivors or bodies that may have been swept to the sea by a swollen river.

Rescuers paddle their rubber boat to search for survivors following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

Police carry the body of a victim by a flash flood that hit Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

A soldier helps a woman holding the dead body of her child killed during the passage of tropical storm Washi at a village in Iligan City, on the southern island of Mindanao on December 17, 2011.

Volunteers use rubber a boat to ferry residents to safer grounds following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

Police approach a distraught resident following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

Residents are rescued by volunteers following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

Rescuers carry a girl to safety following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.

A resident rummages through debris following a flash flood that inundated Cagayan de Oro city, Philippines, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011.