At least 198 people have been killed after mud slides caused by Typhoon Durian swamped villages at the foot of the Mayon volcano in the eastern Philippines, officials said today.

Rivers of mud, volcanic ash and boulders, some as big as cars, crashed down on villages surrounding the live volcano after flash flooding caused by heavy rains.

Officials reported that 260 people were missing and another 130 injured during the super-typhoon that battered the Albay province with winds gusting up to 165 mph.

Worst hit was the village of Padang where more than 100 people were killed or have been reported missing.

Rescue teams were struggling to get to the area and have been hampered by blocked roads and swollen rivers. They said that the number of casualties was likely to rise.

Glen Rabonza, head of the Office of Civil Defence, said provincial officials had requested 200 body bags. "Our rescue teams are overstretched rescuing people on rooftops," he said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the military to assist medical teams in reaching the submerged villages.

Mayon's slopes were covered in rocks and volcanic ash following its last eruption in July. Officials said that heavy rains have loosened the debris causing the mud slide.

Noel Rosal, mayor of Legazpi city, the capital of the Albay province, visited Padang, where he said clothes were ripped off the backs of villagers as they were swept away by the mudslide. "It's terrible," he told the Associated Press.

"Based on our interviews with residents and village officials, more than 100 were killed or missing.

"We now call this place a black desert," he said, referring to the colour of the volcanic debris.

Mr Rosal said that some boulders which ripped through the area were as big as cars.

Currently, Padang can only be reached by foot or motorcycle because a bridge linking it to Legazpi, about 10 kilometres away, was damaged. Information is also scarce after power and telephone lines were cut.

Legazpi City's airport was shut down as part of the roof of the terminal was destroyed by the storm and large parts of the city were flooded.

Carolyn Wilson, an English examiner with the British Council, in Legazpi, said the typhoon struck with incredible force, tearing off roofs, blowing in windows and uprooting trees.

In September, nearly 200 people were killed when Typhoon Xangsane hit the north and centre of the country.

Durian weakened today as it headed towards the South China Sea with sustained winds of 94 mph and gusts of up to 116mph.

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