video transcript

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL A state of disaster for typhoon-hit towns in southern Philippines. Fallen trees and debris littered the area. Hardly any buildings remain standing. Typhoon Bopha has killed at least 418 people, with around 400 more still missing. Rescue work is hampered by the lack of equipment. President Benigno Aquino visited the town of New Bataan to hand out cash and food to displaced families. (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) PHILIPPINES PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO SAYING: "We are here to help with - what's important to me, number one - those who are missing. I want to account for those who are still alive, if there still are, to reach them as soon as possible. I want to know why this tragedy happened. I also want to see how we can avoid having a tragedy like this again." More than 10,000 houses were destroyed by the typhoon across more than a dozen provinces. Bopha has now weakened and is slowly moving northwest towards the South China Sea.