Super Typhoon Man-yi batters Philippines' most populous island

Super Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the Philippines' most populous island on Nov 17, with the national weather service warning of flooding, landslides and huge waves as the storm sweeps across the archipelago nation.

Man-yi was still packing maximum sustained winds of 185kmh and gusts of up to 230kmh after making landfall on lightly populated Catanduanes island late on Nov 16.

More than 1.2 million people fled their homes ahead of Man-yi as the national weather service warned of a "potentially catastrophic and life-threatening" impact from the storm.

No deaths have been reported, but there was "extensive" damage to structures on Catanduanes, civil defence chief Ariel Nepomuceno said.

Man-yi remained a super typhoon as it hit heavily populated Luzon - the country's economic engine - forecasters said, warning of a "potentially dangerous" situation in Aurora province.

"Significant weakening" was expected as it traversed the mountainous island, the weather service said. But it added that severe flooding and landslides were expected as Man-yi dumped "intense to torrential" rain over provinces in its path.

Panganiban municipality in the north-east of Catanduanes took a direct hit from Man-yi.