Death toll from Philippine typhoon rises to 420

NEW BATAAN, Philippines (AP) -- Authorities say the death toll from a strong typhoon that hit the Philippines has risen to about 420 people and nearly 400 are missing.

Most of the confirmed dead from Typhoon Bopha lived in a steep valley in the country's south where flooding was so widespread that places people thought were safe, including two emergency shelters, became among the deadliest.

Authorities said about 215 victims died in Compostela Valley and more than 151 died in nearby Davao Oriental province, with the rest were in other central and southern provinces. The typhoon hit with winds of 175 kph (109 mph) on Tuesday. It was weakening Friday in the South China Sea and expected to dissipate by the weekend.