Officials say the toll could rise; communications links are down and the full extent of damage is not known.

Typhoon Megi was the strongest to hit the Philippines for several years and caused significant damage, tearing the roofs off houses and cutting power.

It has now passed over the main island, Luzon, and is heading towards the southern coast of China.

Forecasters predict severe weather there by the weekend.

On the southern Chinese island of Hainan, the rain prompted more than 100,000 people to leave their homes over the weekend.

Typhoon Megi could also hit Vietnam, where unrelated floods have swept people away and flooded thousands of homes, leaving at least 31 dead and 23 missing.

Flash floods have also hit northern Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima province.