Typhoon Melor kills four people and cuts power in wide areas of Philippines

The powerful typhoon that has swept through the Philippines has killed four people and left swathes of the country without power in the run-up to Christmas. Typhoon Melor, locally known as Nona, made its fifth landfall in the archipelago nation today, as it reached the Pinamalayan province in the western island of Mindoro. About 730,000 people were evacuated in six provinces, with the weather bureau warning of flash floods and landslides as the storm arrived, bringing heavy rains and winds gusting at 185 kph (115 mph). Trees were knocked down and power lines cut leaving millions in the dark.

Our target is to restore power by Christmas, but it will still depend on many factors.

Mina Marasigan, spokeswoman of the national disaster management agency

Authorities have yet to make contact with some of the badly hit areas and it is unclear if or by how much the death toll would climb. Distraught survivors surveyed their damaged homes on the eve of the traditional nine-day Christmas vigil that Filipinos observe with dawn masses and rice cakes. Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the Philippines, where 80 percent of its 100 million people are Catholic, and decorations such as colourful lights and lanterns have already been put up in most towns.

It will be a very sad Christmas and a dark one because we have no power. But the important thing is everyone around me is still moving.

54-year-old rice farmer Noemi Pesigan

Asia-Pacific Typhoon Melor