Typhoon Haiyan hits central Philippines

Typhoon Haiyan, potentially the strongest recorded typhoon to make landfall, slammed into the Philippines' central islands on Friday (November 8) forcing millions of people to move to safer ground and storm shelters, cutting power and phone lines, and grounding air and sea transport.

The maximum category-five super typhoon, with destructive winds gusting of up to 275 kph (170 mph), whipped up giant waves as high as 4-5 metres (12-15 feet) that lashed the islands of Leyte and Samar, and was on track to hit holiday destinations.

About a million people are in shelter areas in more than 20 provinces, after Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Thursday appealed to people in Haiyan's path to evacuate danger areas, like river banks, coastal villages and mountain slopes.

Haiyan is forecast to pass just north of the Philippine's second largest city Cebu, home to around 2.5 million people.

The state weather bureau said Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda, is expected to ex