Early news reports across the world, after Typhoon Haiyan 'Yolanda' struck the Philippines; put the estimated death toll at 10,000 with over 660,000 displaced. Considering the devastation caused by the typhoon, the figure seemed plausible. Now, it turns out that the actually death toll is far less, still bad enough and the official, who released the wild estimate of death toll has been sacked.

Policemen and volunteers carry a body bag to a mass grave for burial in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban city, central Philippines November 14, 2013. Philippine President Benigno Aquino was under growing pressure on Thursday to speed up the distribution of food, water and medicine to desperate survivors of a powerful typhoon and to revive paralysed local governments. (REUTERS/Edgar Su)

Late on Thursday, the official death count stood at 2,357 with many believing that the number could still rise

The Philippines News Agency on Thursday reported that the police officer responsible for providing the figure to the media, Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, has been relieved from his post.

"Soria was even admonished earlier by PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima who stated that a police official should base his statements from correct figures," the agency reported.

Wall Street Journal quoted Col. Reuben Sindac, spokesman for the Philippines National Police, who confirmed on Thursday that "Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria was removed as head of the regional office that oversees police operations in the central Philippines, where Typhoon Haiyan, locally called Yolanda, unleashed her gale-force winds and whipped up 15-foot-high storm surges before leaving the country Saturday."

Although it is a relief that the figure of 10,000 is wrong, the bad news, however, is that official death toll is still a staggering 2,357. The toll is likely to rise as authorities continue to dig through the rubble and the death toll among injured, add up.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino III told CNN that the figure of 10,000 was a baseless estimate by officers too emotional involved in the trauma.

"Ten thousand I think is too much and perhaps that was brought about by, how should I put it, being in the center of the destruction. There was emotional trauma involved in that particular estimate, quoting both a police and a local government official. They were too close to the incident. They have no basis for it. The figure I have now is 2,000 but this still might get higher. We're hoping to be able to contact something like 29 municipalities left wherein we have to establish their numbers, especially the missing. But so far 2,000 to 2,500 is the figure we're working on as far as death is concerned." Mr Aquino said.