MAHINOG, Philippines (Reuters) - Tropical storm Lingling strengthened on Friday as it headed into the South China Sea after leaving a trail of destruction in the Philippines and a death toll of up to 350 people there.Disaster officials said at least 115 bodies had been recovered in four provinces in the southern and central Philippines while 281 people were still missing.
Regional civil defense director Casiano Matela told Reuters 237 of the missing were buried under 10 feet of mud and boulders on the southern island of Camiguin and were believed dead.
The Philippine weather bureau said the storm strengthened on Friday, with gusts of up 85 mph as it swirled toward the South China Sea and possibly Vietnam -- itself recovering from three months of flooding which killed at least 360 people.
``It's now in the South China Sea. I expect it to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by tomorrow afternoon and head toward south Vietnam,'' said Prisco Nilo, chief of the forecasting division of the Philippine weather bureau.