Typhoon holds up 4,000 people in Philippines

Around 4,000 passengers have been left stranded at a number of ports in the Philippines due to Typhoon Jelawat, officials said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said passengers were stranded in Matnog in Sorsogon province, Balwarterco and Dapdap in Northern Samar province, Xinhua reported.

At least three flights were cancelled due to bad weather.

The weather forecast bureau said Jelawat was at 310 km east of Catarman in Northern Samar Sunday evening with maximum winds of 140 km per hour near the centre.

The typhoon was also likely to bring heavy rains in Western Visayas and Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.