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At least 10 people are reported to have been killed as Typhoon Glenda struck the central Philippines island of Luzon bringing winds of up to 115 mph.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate as the eye of the storm passed south of the capital Manila. The severe weather brought the city to a standstill.
More than 200 international and domestic flights have been cancelled.
A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 suffered a hole on its left wing when strong gusts of wind pushed the aircraft five metres across the tarmac at Manila airport, hitting equipment parked nearby, Reuters reported.
More than 370,000 people, mostly in the eastern province of Albay which was the first to be hit by the typhoon, had been evacuated, the Philippine National Red Cross said.
Town halls had been converted into shelters and evacuees had also been taken to schools and gymns.
“Trees are starting to fall down and everything is just rain and wind,” eyewitness Zhey Anzures told the BBC from a Manila suburb.
“We are also just beside a construction site and the cranes are really rotating because of the strong winds.”
Strong winds also bore down on homes in outlying slum areas along Manila Bay, where thousands of people live.
Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said: “We have not received reports of major flooding in Manila because the typhoon did not bring rain but the winds were strong.”
He added that an increased awareness of storm surges and a willingness to follow government advice had also helped reduce casualties this time around.
Cathay Pacific today advised that it does not expect “significant disruption” to services based on current forecasts as Typhoon Glenda gets close to its Hong Kong base on Friday.
However, the airline said: “Cathay Pacific advises passengers that situation may change rapidly.
“Customers are therefore recommended to check Flight Status before departing for the airport.”
The Philippines is hit by around 20 major storms a year. Typhoon Glenda is the first to make landfall this year after the rainy season began in June.
Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the country last year, killed more than 6,000 people and was said to be one of the worst storms on record.