Philippine typhoon Haiyan death toll reaches 2,275

The official death toll as a result of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines has risen to 2,275, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Wednesday.

The council said around 3,655 were injured, and a further 80 missing, according to the Associated Press.

Typhoon Haiyan, considered one of the most powerful storms on record, struck six central Philippine islands on Friday, wiping away buildings and leveling seaside homes with ferocious winds of 235 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon is feared to have claimed more than 10,000 lives and more than nine million people have been affected. Many are now struggling to survive without food, shelter or clean drinking water.

The United States and Britain are sending several warships, including an aircraft carrier, to the typhoon-stricken Philippines, according to official announcements on Monday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington other naval warships to the Philippines as Marines began arriving in the hardest-hit areas to joint relief efforts following the deadly typhoon.

Also on Monday, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced a navy warship with equipment to make drinking water from seawater and a military transport aircraft will be sent to the Philippines.

A massive relief operation is underway, though many in the disaster zone have yet to see much assistance.

(With AP)