Typhoon Nina puts a dampener on Philippines Christmas celebrations

A powerful typhoon which hit the Philippines late yesterday has so far killed one person, cut off electricity to millions and forced tens of thousands to flee its approach.

A falling tree pinned and killed a farmer after the typhoon made landfall in Quezon province, southeast of Manila.

More than 218,000 in Catanduanes province were forced to flee to evacuation shelters as the powerful typhoon approached.

The typhoon made landfall yesterday and is forecast to move westwards towards the country's heartland - packing winds of 230km/h, the government weather station said.

In an attempt to entice villagers to emergency shelters, Camarines Sur province governor Miguel Villafuerte offered suckling pig, known locally as lechon - a popular Christmas delicacy in the country.

It is moving northwest at 20km/h and will likely exit the main Philippines island of Luzon by Monday afternoon.

Civil defence officials said Manila could suffer "heavy to intense rains, flash-floods and severe winds," with rescue boats ready to be deployed in case the rivers overflow.

"Our local disaster councils are on red alert. We have pre-positioned relief supplies and rescue and (road) clearing equipment in metro Manila," said Mina Marasigan, spokeswoman of the country's disaster monitoring council.

The coastguard have ordered the beaches south of Manila to be cleared of holidaymakers by Monday, while residents of the capital's seaside slums were warned to leave their homes.

With AFP