Megi the Destroyer strikes

The Philippines declared a state of calamity in a northern province after super typhoon Megi hit yesterday, cutting off power and communications, forcing flight cancellations and putting the region's rice crop at risk.

Megi, the 10th and strongest typhoon to hit The Philippines this year, struck Isabela province at 11.25am local time and by early evening was heading west-southwest across the north of the main island of Luzon, with winds of 180km/h near the centre, forecasters said.

Tropical Storm Risk, The Philippines' national disaster agency, said Megi, known locally as Juan, was a category-5 super typhoon, the highest rating. Winds of more than 250km/h were recorded when Megi hit mountains in Luzon yesterday morning.

"The governor of Isabela declared a state of calamity, so there could be massive damage and destruction there," said Benito Ramos, executive director of the disaster agency.

"Power has been cut and crops about to be harvested could have been destroyed. We have no actual report because we're waiting for the weather to clear to make an assessment."

Initial reports were of one death and a small number of casualties, but the National Telecommunications Commission said up to 90% of communications in the Isabela and Cagayan provinces might have been knocked out.

Television footage showed trees uprooted on roads, and metal and thatched roofing blown off houses.

In six hours, the city of Tuguegarao, in Cagayan, had 54mm of rain, and Baguio City, on the western side of Luzon, had 28mm.

The typhoon was expected to clear Luzon island at about midnight yesterday.

Angelito Banayo, administrator of the National Food Authority, said the government's worst-case scenario was that Megi would damage 232169t of unmilled rice in the north, and that it would be possible to harvest only 30% of the rice crop.

The Philippines is the world's biggest rice importer and damage from the typhoon lead to it having to buy more than had been expected next year, which would push up international prices.

Isabela province declared a state of calamity in an effort to ensure the continuance of food and energy supplies, and to enable them to spend more on rescue, relief and rehabilitation work after the typhoon leaves, said officials at the disaster agency.

There were warnings of flash floods, river banks breaking and landslides in mountainous areas of Luzon, and heavy rains were still expected in the typhoon's tail.

The US military, holding a nine-day exercise with Filipino counterparts, has offered helicopters to deliver relief supplies and to rescue marooned people.

After clearing The Philippines, Megi will head into the South China Sea. Tropical Storm Risk expects Megi to turn away from Vietnam towards China, with the centre passing between Hainan island and Hong Kong. China's National Meteorological Centre said Megi might be the worst storm to hit the country this year.

About 140000 people were evacuated from 15 cities on Hainan island since heavy rains reached it on Friday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.