MANILA - The death toll from week-long floods in the Philippines caused by a typhoon has risen to 45, with nine more bodies recovered in the past 48 hours, authorities said yesterday.

Monsoon rains continued to pound large parts of the country while some areas in Manila and surrounding towns remained knee-deep in floodwater, the civil defense office said.

Typhoon Saola (local name: Gener) did not hit the Philippines directly but passed near its northeast, causing storm surges from Manila Bay that swamped parts of the capital.

It also toppled power lines and damaged many roads and bridges.

After wreaking havoc on the Philippines, the typhoon blew into Taiwan late last week, where it killed at least six people.*AFP

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