380 , 000 FORCED TO FLEE TYPHOON
Mayhem in Philippines as Nock-Ten kills at least six
MORE than 380,000 people were cowering in emergency shelters yesterday as a massive super-typhoon caused chaos in the Philippines.
At least six deaths had been reported and the toll was expected to rise. The storm was heading for heavily populated areas around the capital, Manila, last night.
Typhoon Nock-Ten battered the Pacific nation with gusts of up to 184mph.
The authorities were racing against time to get families in its path out of their flimsy wooden homes and in to shelters.
The charity Save the Children told the BBC that up to a million people would need to be moved within hours. Some people were refusing to leave their homes and were being evacuated by force.
Five entire provinces were blacked out as the typhoon flattened power lines or sent trees toppling into overhead wires.
More than 300 flights were cancelled or delayed and more than 12,000 ferry passengers were stranded in port. One large cargo ship was blown aground.
Officials said the six people known to have died either drowned in flash floods or were hit by fallen trees or collapsed walls.
The typhoon ruined Christmas for many in the mainly Catholic Philippines. Families said they could not celebrate while their neighbours were losing their homes.