Manila  - Philippine disaster relief agencies on Thursday stepped up rehabilitation work on northern provinces battered by a storm that killed 44 people, the government said.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said floods have subsided in many affected provinces, making it easier for relief workers to reach out to the victims.

The NDCC said eight fishermen from the province of Pangasinan, the worst-hit area, remained missing. Thirty-one people died in the province.

The other fatalities were from the nearby provinces of La Union, Zambales and Benguet.

Many of the fatalities drowned in flashfloods, died when struck by tin sheets torn off from roofs by Halong's strong winds or were buried in collapsed structures.

A total of 1.1 million people have been adversely affected by storm Halong, which pummelled 61 towns and seven cities in five provinces.

Rapid health assessment teams have been deployed in the affected areas to monitor the medical needs of the victims and to establish disease surveillance systems.

Damages to agriculture and infrastructure was estimated at 3.74 billion pesos (86.47 million dollars). (dpa)