The typhoon, the strongest storm hitting the Philippines this year, also left 500 people injured and 56 remainedmissing.
On December 20, the Government mobilised militaryairplanes and naval vessels to carry aid to areas devastated by the typhoon.
The country is still assessing the damage, which is huge, DefenseSecretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on the day.
He noted the top priorities are to provide food andwater to storm victims and medical care for the injured.
Rai lashed the Philippines for three days, causing destructionin the central and southern Philippines region. It has so far affected some780,000 people, of whom more than 490,000 had to evacuate./.