MANILA: Catholic dioceses in eastern Mindanao have appealed for help in getting relief to thousands of families displaced by typhoon Pablo.

Authorities said more than 30,000 residents have fled their homes in Surigao del Sur, which has been placed in a state of calamity.

Fr. Antonio Galela, Diocese of Tandag’s social action director, said the victims in around 35 evacuation centers in the province currently need food, potable water, clothing and other basic necessities.

“Food is the immediate need of the people affected by the typhoon particularly here in Tandag especially in the evacuation centers,” Galela told Church-run Radyo Veritas on Wednesday.

He said the diocese’s relief operations is currently ongoing and has already served more than a thousand victims.

The priest added that the strongest cyclone to hit the country this year destroyed hundreds of houses and triggered a province-wide power outage since Tuesday.

The Diocese of Surigao also made the same appeal for the affected residents in its area.

Fr. Almario Ramada, Surigao diocese social action director, said that the victims also need medicine aside from food and water.

He said the diocese is doing its best to provide the immediate needs of the victims but more funds are needed to help other people in different areas.

The Diocese of Mati in Davao Oriental also raised a similar appeal for emergency aid following the onslaught of the typhoon.

The government said the death toll from the typhoon that also hit several provinces in Visayas already went up to 238 and hundreds are still missing as of Wednesday. But later reports on Friday reported the higher death count of nearly 200,000 people rendered homeless and 475 confirmed dead.