DOH official: 'Yolanda' victims burials completed in Leyte

MANILA, Philippines  -A health official said that the mass burial for thousands of  victims of Super typhoon Yolanda in Leyte has been completed.

In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Health Undersecretary Janet Garin said the Department of Health, the National Bureau of Investigation and local government units have met President Benigno Aquino III's Monday deadline to complete the burial activities in the province.

Garin said the tasks were completed as of 11 in the morning--two months after the typhoon  claimed scores of lives and left.

According to the state report, the number of individuals still missing stood at 1,785 as of posting time.

Government earned criticisms for supposed ineptness in gathering and burying the 1,400 remains left scattered in disaster zones.

Survivors and relief volunteers have had to endure the stench from the decaying bodies many of which were trapped under rubble.

Agents of the International Police Organization (INTERPOL) arrived to help identify and recover thousands of fatalities as well as those still missing.

The death toll from the calamity climbed to 6,166 as of Friday.