TYPHOON LEAVES 7 DEAD, MILLIONS WITHOUT POWER

At least seven people have been killed by a powerful typhoon that struck the Philippines, unleashing some of the worst flooding in years in Manila, and wind gusts of 250 kilometres per hour.

Typhoon Vamco, also known as Ulysses, is the eighth to hit the Philippines in two months.

President Rodrigo Duterte cut short his attendance at a virtual meeting of southeast Asian leaders, where he had been warning of the dangers of climate change.

Inspecting the damage, he pledged shelter, relief goods, financial aid and counselling.

Nearly three million homes have been left without power.

Images showed coast guards swimming through muddy floodwater as high as electricity poles to rescue children and the elderly.

ELOISA LOPEZ / REUTERS A woman is rescued from her submerged home in Marikina on Thursday after a powerful typhoon hit the Philippines.