Typhoon Hagupit weakens

Typhoon Hagupit weakened to a tropical depression on Tuesday as it appeared set to leave the Philippines.

At least 27 people have been killed and thousands of homes destroyed.

Farmers are lamenting the devastation.

Some say they'll have to harvest what they can.

(SOUNDBITE)(Filipino) NERIO GARCIA, FARMER, SAYING:

"We can still gather some crops, even if only a few are left. We'll try to cut down and harvest everything we can, even fallen crops."

Nearly 1.7 million people evacuated from their homes were preparing to return.

Despite the destruction it's a far cry from the lethal impact of super typhoon Haiyan last year when thousands were killed or went missing, and over a million homes were wrecked.

Hagupit, the Filipino word for 'lash', is heading towards the South China Sea and was expected to leave the country by Wednesday.