NEW BATAAN, Philippines (AP) — The number of people missing after a typhoon devastated the Philippines jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen at sea, officials said. The fishermen from southern General Santos city and nearby Sarangani province left a few days before Typhoon Bopha hit the main southern island of Mindanao on Tuesday, Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos said. The death toll has already surpassed 600, mostly from flash floods that wiped away precarious communities in the southern region unaccustomed to typhoons. Ramos said the fishermen were headed to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and to the Pacific Ocean. Coast guard, navy and fishing vessels are searching for them, and some may have sought shelter on the many small islands in the area. "Maybe they are still alive," Ramos said Sunday. Bopha was dissipating finally in the South China Sea after briefly veering back toward the country's northwest on Saturday, prompting worries of more devastation. Rescuers were searching for bodies or signs of life under tons of fallen trees and boulders in the worst-hit town of New Bataan, where rocks, mud and other rubble destroyed landmarks, making it doubly difficult to search places where houses once stood. Hundreds of refugees, rescuers and aid workers took a break Sunday to watch the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight on a big TV screen, only to be dismayed by their hero's sixth-round knockout. Elementary school teacher Constancio Olivar said people fell silent when Pacquiao, a congressman who comes from the southern Philippines where the storm hit, fell heavily to the canvas and remained motionless for some time. "It was like a double blow for me — this disaster and this defeat," said Olivar, whose house was destroyed in the storm. "We were all crestfallen. Everyone fell silent, stunned. It was like we saw a tsunami." Nearly 400,000 people, mostly from Compostela Valley and nearby Davao Oriental province, have lost their homes and are crowded inside evacuation centers or staying with relatives. President Benigno Aquino III has declared a national calamity, which allows for price controls on basic commodities in typhoon-affected areas and the quick release of emergency funds. Officials said Sunday that 316 people were killed in Compostela Valley, including 165 in New Bataan, and 301 in Davao Oriental. More than 45 people were killed elsewhere. Nearly 900 are missing, including the fishermen and 440 from New Bataan alone. Davao Oriental authorities imposed a curfew there and ordered police to guard stores and shops to prevent looting. The typhoon destroyed about 18 percent of the banana plantations in Mindanao, causing losses estimated at 12 billion pesos ($300 million), according to Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association. The Philippines is the world's third-largest banana producer and exporter, supplying international brands such as Dole, Chiquita and Del Monte. ___ Associated Press writers Oliver Teves and Hrvoje Hranjski in Manila contributed to this report.
Hundreds of fishermen missing in Philippine storm
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A survivor of Tuesday's devastating typhoon is carried into a makeshift clinic after being rescued Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents, impacted by Tuesday's storm, line up for relief supplies at an evacuation center Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A flash flood survivor is driven to a hospital after being rescued Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines. A powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Relatives cross a river to bury their loved one, who died in a flash flood caused by Typhoon Bopha, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A mother cuddles her child as she lines up for relief supplies at an evacuation center following Tuesday's typhoon, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A resident checks the names of his missing relatives following Tuesday's storm in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A resident searches for victims of Tuesday's devastating storm in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Flash flood victims wait for relief supplies at an evacuation center following Tuesday's devastating typhoon, in New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in the southern Philippines, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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In this photo released by the Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division shows an aerial view of damaged crops caused by flashfloods in Compostela Valley province, southern Philippines on Thursday Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/ Philippine Army 10th ID)
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Members of the Philippine Coast Guard carry relief goods for victims of flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha in Davao province, while loading their ship in Manila, Philippines on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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In this photo released by the Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division shows an aerial view of toppled trees and homes caused by flashfloods in Compostela Valley province, southern Philippines on Thursday Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/ Philippine Army 10th ID)
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This photo released by the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division shows an aerial view of houses damaged by flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha in Compostela Valley province, in the southern Philippines, on Thursday Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division) NO SALES
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This photo released by the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division shows an aerial view of houses damaged by flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha in Compostela Valley province, in the southern Philippines on Thursday Dec. 6, 2012. The powerful typhoon that washed away emergency shelters, a military camp and possibly entire families in the southern Philippines has killed hundreds of people with nearly 400 missing, authorities said Thursday. (AP Photo/Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division) NO SALES
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Rescuers work to retrieve another flash flood victim from the debris of Tuesday's Typhoon Bopha at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Friday Dec. 7, 2012. Rescuers were digging through mud and debris Friday to retrieve more bodies strewn across a farming valley in the southern Philippines by a powerful typhoon. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A boy pulls his slippers after getting stuck in the mud as he heads home with relief goods at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Friday Dec. 7, 2012. More than 310,000 people have lost their homes since Typhoon Bopha struck Tuesday and are crowded inside evacuation centers or staying with their relatives, relying on food and emergency supplies being rushed in by government agencies and aid groups. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Typhoon victims receive relief goods following the visit of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Friday Dec. 7, 2012. More than 310,000 people have lost their homes since Typhoon Bopha struck Tuesday and are crowded inside evacuation centers or staying with their relatives, relying on food and emergency supplies being rushed in by government agencies and aid groups. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Commuters pass by a banana plantation that was destroyed at the height of Tuesday's typhoon named "Bopha" at Nabunturan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Friday Dec. 7, 2012. The economic losses began to emerge Friday after export banana growers reported that 14,000 hectares (34,600 acres) of export banana plantations, equal to 18 percent of the total in Mindanao, were destroyed. The Philippines is the world's third-largest banana producer and exporter, supplying well-known brands such as Dole, Chiquita and Del Monte mainly to Japan and also to South Korea, China, New Zealand and the Middle East. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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In this photo released by the Malacanang Photo Bureau shows the remains of a house after flash floods caused by a powerful typhoon hit Compostela Valley, southern Philippines on Friday Dec. 7, 2012. Rescuers were digging through mud and debris to retrieve more bodies strewn across a farming valley in the southern Philippines by a powerful typhoon. The death toll from the storm has surpassed 500, with more than 400 people missing.(AP Photo/Jay Morales, Malacanang Photo Bureau, HO)
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In this photo taken Dec. 7, 2012 and released by the Malacanang Photo Bureau, the mudflow is covering a town after flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha hit Compostela Valley, southern Philippines. Rescuers were digging through mud and debris to retrieve more bodies strewn across the farming valley in the southern Philippines by the powerful typhoon. The death toll from the storm has surpassed 500, with more than 400 people missing. (AP Photo/Malacanang Photo Bureau, Jay Morales) NO SALES
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In this photo taken Dec. 7, 2012 and released by the Malacanang Photo Bureau, a swollen river carries mud after Typhoon Bopha hit Compostela Valley, southern Philippines. Rescuers were digging through mud and debris to retrieve more bodies strewn across the farming valley in the southern Philippines by the powerful typhoon. The death toll from the storm has surpassed 500, with more than 400 people missing. (AP Photo/Malacanang Photo Bureau, Jay Morales) NO SALES
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Relatives cry upon seeing the remains of their relative at a damaged public market which serves as a makeshift mortuary for typhoon's Bopha's victims at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following a typhoon that killed nearly 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Eddie Jotojot checks the coffin of his son Ejiedev who was killed at the height of Tuesday's typhoon Bopha at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following a typhoon that killed nearly 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A girl is comforted upon seeing the sealed coffin of her relative at a damaged public market which now serves as a makeshift mortuary for typhoon Bopha's victims at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following typhoon Bopha that killed nearly 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A typhoon evacuee prepares a clothesline at an evacuation center at Maparat township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following typhoon Bopha that killed nearly 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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CORRECTS DATE - Typhoon evacuees dry documents and family photos at an evacuation center at Maparat township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following typhoon Bopha that killed nearly 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Arlene Barcelona sits at a damaged public market for the wake of her mother Felicitas who was killed at the height of Tuesday's typhoon Bopha at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Saturday Dec. 8, 2012. Search and rescue operations following a typhoon that killed nearly 600 people in the southern Philippines have been hampered in part because many residents of this ravaged farming community are too stunned to assist recovery efforts, an official said Saturday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha crowd as relief goods are distributed at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of the typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha crowd as relief goods are distributed at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of the typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha crowd as relief goods are distributed at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of the typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha crowd as relief goods are distributed at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of the typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha beg for aid from passing motorists along a highway at Montevista township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of a typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha beg for aid from passing motorists along a highway at Montevista township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of a typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Residents affected by typhoon Bopha crowd as relief goods are distributed at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of the typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Sculptures of dinosaurs are left standing at a park which was damaged by the recent typhoon that hit New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of the typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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Typhoon victims as well as rescuers and soldiers take a break to watch the fight between the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao and Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez at the command center for the rescue efforts for typhoon Bopha's victims at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. Filipino fans were stunned by Pacquiao's knockout defeat to Marquez on Sunday, dampening the spirit of a nation battered by a powerful typhoon that killed more than 600 people in the southern region where the boxing champion lives. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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A resident affected by typhoon Bopha begs for aid from passing motorists along a highway at Montevista township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Sunday Dec. 9, 2012. The number of missing in the wake of a typhoon that devastated parts of the southern Philippines has jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
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