台风侵袭菲律宾超过200人死亡

Philippine officials say the death toll from Typhoon Bopha, the most powerful storm to hit the country this year, has risen above 200, with dozens still missing.

Rescuers scrambled Wednesday to reach areas devastated by the storm, which is still packing winds of up to 160 kilometers per hour as it moves across the south-central Philippines.

Many those confirmed killed were in the hard-hit mining southern province of Compostela Valley. Dozens more were killed by flash floods in Davao Oriental province, which lies along the coast.

The military used helicopters to rush aid and heavy equipment to many areas that are isolated due to power outages, lack of communications, and destroyed roads and bridges.

Bopha made landfall Tuesday with winds of up to 210 kilometers per hour. Forecasters say the now weakening storm is headed for popular resort areas in the western Philippines before it heads for the South China Sea on Thursday.