440 people were killed and nearly 200 are still missing from the tropical storm that hit South Philippines, AFP quoted relief working as saying Saturday.

440 people were killed and nearly 200 are still missing from the tropical storm that hit South Philippines, AFP quoted relief workers as saying Saturday.

About 20,000 soldiers had been mobilized in a huge rescue and relief operation across the stricken north coast of the island of Mindanao, where the major ports of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan were worst hit.

Philippine National Red Cross Secretary-General Gwen Pang told AFP that “Cagayan de Oro city reported 215 dead, and nearby Iligan city lost 144 residents."

Iligan mayor Lawrence Cruz said “this is the worst flood in the history of our city… It happened so fast, at a time when people were fast asleep."