Philippines downsizes death toll to 2000-2500 five days after 'record-breaking' storm

Philippines President Benigno Aquino III has said the death toll could be anywhere between 2000 and 2500, which was much lower than earlier estimates of 10,000 by two officials from Tacloban, five days after the strongest storm on record hit the central islands.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Philippines lately confirmed that 1744 people had died and another 2487 were injured in the disastrous storm this weekend, stuff.co.nz reports.

Medical supplies, teams of doctors, pallets of water and food piled on trucks, planes and ferries are only trickling into the Philippines city that was devastated from Typhoon Haiyan, but challenges of delivering the assistance meant few have received any help in Tacloban, the report added.

The UN said it had released 25 million dollars in emergency funds to pay for shelter materials and household items, and provision of health services, safe water supplies and sanitation facilities.

However, there was no evidence of any organised delivery of food, water or medical supplies, though piles of aid had begun to arrive at the airport.

Doctors in Tacloban said they were desperate to receive medicine for treating people wounded with cuts, bruises, and lacerations.