Official rescuers in Bangladesh counted another 300 bodies of people killed in Friday's cyclone that triggered mudslides and flash floods, taking the death toll to 932.

“We have got information that 932 bodies have been found and it is increasing still,” said Home Ministry official Mohammad Salimullah. Bangladesh's Home Ministry admitted on Friday that several districts could still not be contacted as telephones and communications were cut and reports of casualties were confused.

Meanwhile unofficial sources claim that the death toll could have reached several thousands.

Based on the information sent by their reporters some newspapers gave figures between 1,100 and 2,000.

“It will take several days to complete the search and know the actual casualty figure and extent of damage to property,” said food and disaster ministry official Ayub Miah.

A massive rescue and relief operation has been mounted Saturday by thousands of soldiers and civilian volunteers in southern Bangladesh.

With a wind speed of up to 240 kph, the cyclone had roared in from the Bay of Bengal just before dusk on Thursday, killing thousands and damaging homes and crops

Most deaths occurred in the Patuakhali-Barisal coastal zone in southern Bangladesh and on offshore islands where nearly 450 people, including several children, were found dead.

The storm also struck the capital Dhaka and its suburbs Friday, killing 11 people and injuring 500 as trees were plucked from the ground by raging winds.

The national meteorological centre warned of heavy rains across the country in Bangladesh in the coming days under the influence of the cyclone.

The Foreign Ministry said in Berlin the funds would come from its emergency aid budget and would be passed on to German non-government organizations on the spot and Bangladesh relief agencies.

It would be spent on medicine, food and clean water as well as emergency shelter.