Typhoon Phanfone has battered central Philippine provinces with "very destructive winds and intense rainfall," forcing thousands to spend Christmas Day in evacuation centres.
Phanfone made five landfalls over the eastern and central Philippines since Tuesday afternoon, but it has maintained its strength, the weather bureau said.
The typhoon, locally called Ursula, was packing maximum sustained winds of 140km/g on Wednesday and gusts of up to 195km/has it moved west at 20km/h the bureau said in its latest bulletin.
"The eyewall of Typhoon Ursula is bringing very destructive winds and intense rainfall over [the central province of Aklan, the northern portion of Antique province, and Romblonb province," it added.
The provinces of Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro would also be affected by the eye wall in the afternoon, the bureau said, adding that "violent conditions" will be experienced after the typhoon's eye moves out of the areas.
More than 4,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in five eastern provinces since Christmas Eve, while over 23,700 people were stranded in seaports after ferries were suspended.
At least 83 domestic flights were also cancelled due to the bad weather, while electricity was cut off in some of the affected areas.
Phanfone is the 21st cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, according to the weather bureau.
One of the strongest typhoons ever recorded, Typhoon Haiyan, hit the country in November 2013, killing more than 6,300 people and displacing more than four million.
With wires...
