Typhoon death toll in Philippines climbs to 18

The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Nesat climbed to 18 on Wednesday as thousands of people battled widespread flooding and another storm bore down on the country.

Rescuers reported two more deaths overnight, while 35 others remained missing, after Nesat unleashed heavy rains, winds and storm surges across the main island of Luzon on Tuesday.

Authorities said they were racing to help thousands of people stranded in flooded villages on the outskirts of the capital of Manila and to repair damaged infrastructure before more bad weather struck.

Burst dykes and water released by authorities from dams that reached critical levels isolated many parts of Bulacan province, just an hour's drive north of Manila.

"Two of my sons are stranded, they texted me that they spent last night on the roof," 56-year-old security guard Resty Tolentino told AFP as he waded through waist-deep murky waters in a bid to reach his home in Calumpit town.

He and another son, a 13-year-old boy, struggled with the strong current while carrying food and other supplies.

"The water had subsided somewhat, but I am still worried because there could be more rain today."

Dozens of others were also slowly making their way through the flooded highway that was turned into a virtual river.

Orencio Gabriel, mayor of Bulacan's coastal town of Obando, said huge waves broke eight dykes and submerged entire communities.

"The water was quick to rise here after the dykes broke," Gabriel said on ANC television as he issued an appeal for relief items. "Our municipal hall remains under chest-deep water."

He said rescuers had tried to reach isolated areas using trucks but were turned back by high waters. Many villagers were stranded in their homes.

However Gabriel said there were no immediate fears that the casualty figures would drastically rise in the area because the waters were expected to subside on Wednesday and most people had sought shelter before the typhoon hit.

In Manila, Office of Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos said intermittent rain slowed down work crews as the government rushed to restore vital lifelines.

"We are focusing on trying to get power and telecommunications services today, and work crews have also fanned out to repair and clear 61 road networks across Luzon damaged by landslides, debris and floods," Ramos told AFP.

At the height of Nesat's fury Tuesday, dramatic storm surges in Manila Bay crashed over seawalls, flooding a hospital, a five-star hotel and the US embassy.

Ramos said more than a million people remained without power Wednesday in Luzon, including some areas in the capital Manila and seven outlying provinces.

Nesat blew out of the Philippines and into the South China Sea on Wednesday, but some parts of Luzon still experienced rains and 11,000 people remained scattered in evacuation centres, the civil defence office said.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said a tropical storm brewing in the Pacific Ocean and heading for Luzon would likely hit land within the week, adding to the misery for the 48 million people living on the island.

"We need to finish emergency work in the aftermath of Nesat before this storm comes," Ramos said.

"We are praying for the skies to clear a little bit today."