Aid groups in the Philippines have applauded the efforts of local governments in evacuating hundreds of thousands of citizens from the path of Typhoon Melor.
The typhoon made land fall yesterday in several regions across the central Philippines, bringing winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour and flooding rain.
Local media are reporting there have been three casualties on Samar island, but this is yet to be confirmed.
Plan International country director Dennis O'Brien told SBS reporter Abby Dinham the toll had been significantly reduced thanks to prepatory work by the government.
He said lessons had been learned since Typhoon Haiyan took more than 6300 lives in 2013.
Wide areas of the central Philippines were plunged into darkness as powerful typhoon Melor barreled into the coconut-growing region, causing flooding, storm surges and forcing almost 800,000 people to evacuate their homes, officials said.
Known locally as Nona, the storm packing winds of 140km/h was about 40km north-northeast of Romblon island early on Tuesday, moving west and weakening.
"Melor will continue to weaken as it crosses the central Philippines into Tuesday," weather provider Accuweather said.
"However, damaging wind gusts higher than 130km/h will target the rest of southern Luzon to Mindoro."
Related reading
Australia gives $1 million to Philippines typhoon relief
Romblon residents reported heavy rain and strong winds from midnight. Power was cut as transmission lines and electric posts came down.
Alexander Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said nearly 800,000 people had been evacuated to shelter areas.
"So far, we have not received any report of typhoon-related casualties," he said.
Media reported that three people had been killed on Samar island, where Melor first made landfall on Monday, although this could not immediately be confirmed.
Power services in six central provinces were disrupted and emergency teams were assessing damage to agriculture and infrastructure, Pama said.
Schools and some offices were closed. Dozens of domestic flights and ferry services were cancelled, and the fishing fleet took shelter due to waves as high as 14 metres.
Another potential tropical system will hit the southern Philippines later this week, Accuweather said.
Related reading
One dead as typhoon Koppu hits Philippines
