Death toll rises: Typhoon Rai kills 75 in the Philippines

(Patria) - The death toll from the typhoon that hit the Philippines has risen to at least 75, BBC reports.

Typhoon Rai, which carried winds of 195 kilometers per hour, hit the Philippines on Thursday, forcing around 300,000 people to seek shelter.

The typhoon hit the southeastern islands, causing enormous material damage.

However, determining the exact death toll will be very difficult as communication with some areas has been completely cut off.

Arthur Yap, governor of the tourist region of Bohol, said today that less than half of the 48 mayors have established contact so far.

In the Bohol region, 49 people were killed and at least 10 people are missing.

Thousands of soldiers, coast guard members, and firefighters have joined search and rescue operations in the worst-hit areas.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte conducted an aerial inspection of the areas devastated by the storm.

Video footage released on social media shows extensive damage to the islands of Siargao, Dinagat, and Mindanao.