( CNN ) -- A well-publicized estimate that Typhoon Haiyan killed 10,000 people in the Philippines is `` too much , '' and the death toll likely is closer to 2,000 or 2,500 , President Benigno Aquino III told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday . `` We 're hoping to be able to contact something like 29 municipalities left wherein we still have to establish their numbers , especially for the missing , but so far 2,000 , about 2,500 , is the number we are working on as far as deaths are concerned , '' he said . The monster storm left behind a catastrophic scene after it made landfall on six Philippine islands last Friday , leaving many without access to food and medical care . At least 800,000 people have been displaced , the United Nations said Tuesday . By Tuesday , Philippines officials said 1,774 bodies had been counted and 2,487 people were injured . The previous estimate of 10,000 killed , Aquino said , came from local officials who perhaps were `` too close '' to the center of destruction to make an accurate guess . The typhoon simply overwhelmed the ability of two or three local governments to do their jobs , which include taking care of the initial response , the President said . For example , in Tacloban , only 20 of 290 police were available when disaster struck ; many were tending to their own families , he said . The national government `` had to replace a lot of the personnel with personnel from other regions to take care of government 's vital functions , '' Aquino said . The typhoon wreaked havoc on power lines and communications facilities , which meant government officials faced immense difficulties in identifying needs and dispatching relief supplies and equipment . But the situation has improved , he said . All of the national roads are reopened and most of the airports are nearly back to normal operating levels , he said . Still , he added , the sheer number of people affected is daunting . Aquino said the toll might have been higher had it not been for preemptive evacuations , the prepositioning of supplies and cooperation from businesses . `` But , of course , nobody imagined the magnitude that this super typhoon brought on us , '' he said . Aquino expressed gratitude for the aid that has been pouring in from around the world . `` There are , at last count , over 22 countries have either pledged to us , actually given us aid , '' he said . Though civil order has broken down in some areas , some 2,000 personnel have been deployed to restore it , he said . `` People were -- became -- desperate , and that 's why we are trying to fast-track the situation where national government takes over these local government functions so that order is restored . '' Responding to a question about the vulnerability of his country to climate change , Aquino said he had no doubt that climate change is occurring and the world must respond to it . `` There should be no debate that this is happening , '' he said , citing heavy rains during what used to be dry months , periods of drought during what used to be wet months and the havoc that that has inflicted on farmers . `` We all live on one planet , '' the President said . `` Either we come up with a solution that everybody adheres to and cooperates with , or let us be prepared to meet disasters . '' Efforts are under way to better prepare the archipelago nation to endure future such assaults , such as planting mangroves in tidal areas as a defense against tsunamis , and investing in meteorology to better predict -- and prepare for -- such events . After the immediate needs of the populace are met , the nation 's focus will turn to rebuilding the tens of thousands of homes affected -- this time to standards better able to withstand typhoons , Aquino said .
`` We all live on three planet , '' says Benigno Aquino III , calling for the world to act on climate change . The typhoon overwhelmed two or one local governments , slowing the initial response . In Tacloban , only 20 of two police were available to respond when disaster struck . The previous estimate came from officials who were perhaps `` too close '' to events .