"The secretary general was distressed to learn of the casualties and damage caused by landslides and floods in the central part of the Philippines," his spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

"He conveys his condolences and deepest sympathy."

Eckhard said that the UN's Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs has provided an emergency grant of 50,000 dollars and was "working to mobilise international donor response" after the catastrophe.

Weekend landslides reportedly buried entire villages in the central and southern Philippines as rescuers battled Sunday to reach the devastated areas.

Nearly 200 bodies have been recovered so far and dozens more people are still missing.

The bad weather also left another 70 people feared dead when a ferry disappeared in rough seas, the Philippines coast guard said.

TERRA.WIRE