Philippines: Death toll less than feared

People are growing increasingly desperate for food, water and medical supplies in typhoon-hit parts of the Philippines, a congressman has warned.

Martin Romualdez, from badly-hit Leyte, said a greater sense of urgency was needed to get aid to those in need.

The UN says more than 11 million people may have been affected and some 673,000 displaced by Typhoon Haiyan.

But on Tuesday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said the death toll may be lower than first thought.

He said the widely reported figure of 10,000 killed was "too high" and the figure was more likely up to 2,500.

But he said 29 municipalities had yet to be contacted to establish the number of victims there.

Relief operations are being stepped up, but many are still without aid, with damage to transport links and bad weather hindering distribution.

Tacloban - a city of 220,000 on Leyte island - is particularly badly affected, and residents are becoming angry at the lack of progress and increasing breakdown in security.

Nearly every house has either been flattened or left without roofs or windows. People are living amid the sodden debris that was once their homes.

Eight people died on Tuesday as desperate survivors mobbed a government rice warehouse in Alangalang, Leyte, officials said.

"One wall of our warehouses collapsed and eight people were crushed and killed instantly," Rex Estoperez, spokesman for the National Food Authority, said.

The police and soldiers were unable to stop the looters, who took more than 100,000 sacks of rice, Estoperez added.

On Tuesday the UN launched an appeal for $301m to help survivors. It has already released $25m to meet immediate needs.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says 11.3 million people are in need of vital goods and services, because of factors such as lack of food, healthcare and access to education and livelihoods.

US and British navy vessels are also heading to the Philippines and several nations have pledged millions of dollars in aid.