NEW BATAAN, Philippines – The death toll from a powerful typhoon in the southern Philippines has climbed to more than 270.

Officials fear many more bodies could be found as rescuers reach hard-hit areas that had been isolated by landslides, floods and downed communications.

The mortality rate is connected to not only the strength of the storm but also the rarity of a typhoon in the area at this time of year.

“It’s close to the equator,” explained CNN’s Tom Sater. “Systems just don’t develop, first of all in the month of December. They’ve never had a super-typhoon move into Mindanao. They’ve never needed to build up the defences on the shoreline. This is unpretected shoreline.”

The storm has left the area unprepared to cope with the 315 kph winds or the expected 300 millimeters of rain, Sater said could ravage the islands.

“Just heard from officials 34,000 people are stranded on piers,” reported Sater. “They did not get out on time and the ferry service is cut off.”

At least 151 people have died in the worst-hit province of Compostela Valley since Typhoon Bopha began lashing the region early Tuesday.

The victims included 66 villagers and soldiers who perished in a flash flood that swamped two emergency shelters and a military camp in New Bataan town.

About 80 people survived the deluge there with injuries, but an unspecified number of villagers remain missing. The deaths came despite efforts by the government to force residents out of high-risk communities.

Army Maj.-Gen. Ariel Bernardo told The Associated Press, 43 people died when torrents of water rampaged down a mountain in New Bataan. Nine soldiers remain missing.

Compostela Valley spokesperson Fe Maestre says six people died in floods in Montevista town in the same province.

Officials say 51 people died, mostly in floods, in nearby Davao Oriental, while two men perished when their boat sank on central Siquijor island.