Rescue teams search for victims as typhoon death toll reaches 4,011

MANILA, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The death toll from Typhoon Haiyan has reached 4,011, the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported Wednesday.

Although the media has reported that 10,000 died in the typhoon, the government's death toll is based on the number of bodies recovered -- a figure that is still rising.

Rescue teams are working to find victims' bodies, the disaster council said, and 1,602 people remain missing, GMA News reported.

Regional Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria was fired after he told the media that 10,000 had died in the disaster.

President Benigno Aquino III insisted that the death toll would be between 2,000 and 2,500, but the government's count exceeded those numbers Friday afternoon.

Another 18,557 people have been injured, and more than 2 million families were affected by the storm, the disaster council said.

Power is still out in some areas, but some residents have begun rebuilding their homes and reopening stores.