The Philippines government says 240 people are now known to have died in severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana.
The country has appealed for foreign aid to deal with the disaster, which has displaced more than 450,000 people.
President Gloria Arroyo has opened the presidential palace to survivors to receive food aid and shelter.
Some 380,000 people are living in makeshift shelters, three times more than previously reported.
read more
