Philippines: At least 1 dead as typhoon blows off roofs, floods villages, cut power lines in northern provinces

At least one person was killed as Typhoon Doksuri lashed the northern Philippines with strong winds and rain on Wednesday, causing rivers to overflow and leaving thousands without power.

Residents in coastal communities had been evacuated ahead of the storm, which brought winds of up to 175kmph and is expected to sustain strength as it continues its course toward Taiwan and China later this week.

"We are being battered here," Manual Mamba, governor of northern Cagayan province, told Reuters.

At least one person drowned in the province of Rizal in the wake of the typhoon, the national disaster agency said.

More than 4,000 passengers were stranded at various ports in the country after sea travel was suspended, the Philippine coast guard said.

As many as 44,356 families or 180,439 individuals were affected by the typhoon across the country, according to the authorities

As of 8 am (0000 GMT) Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said in the past three hours the typhoon's centre was close to hovering and at a standstill.

But authorities issued land warnings for several counties and cities in southern Taiwan including the major port city of Kaohsiung. An emergency response centre has been set up by the central government, and nearly 50 domestic flights and four international flights, as well as many ferry lines, were cancelled..

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