Typhoon Hagupit downgraded to 'tropical storm'

The death toll in the Philippines has risen to 27 in the aftermath of tropical storm Hagiput, according to the country's Red Cross.

Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross said: "We now have a total of 27 dead, most of them in Borongan, Eastern Samar."

Gordon also confirmed around 2,500 houses were totally or partially destroyed in Borongan during this weekend's storm.

The Philippine Red Cross have reported that at least 21 people have died in the aftermath of Typhoon Hagupit making landfall this weekend.

It is believed that many of the storm's victims drowned as flood waters rose in Borongan, the main town in Eastern Samar where Hagupit first hit.

Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine National Red Cross said: "We have confirmed reports that 21 people died in Eastern Samar, 16 of them in Borongan."

Typhoon Hagupit had its status downgraded to a tropical storm today as its strength weakened as it continued to make its way across the country.

Typhoon Hagupit, known locally as Ruby, has been downgraded to the status of tropical storm.

The Philippines evacuated more than a million people ahead of the storm making landfall on Saturday and hundreds remain in shelters as Hagupit continues to cross the country as it heads to the capital Manila.

The country's official Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported the downgrading of the storm's status on its twitter feed.

Torrential rain and high winds are still sweeping across the central Philippines, as a powerful typhoon moves slowly across the islands.

After thousands died in a similar storm last year, a million people were evacuated before this typhoon struck.

ITV News Senior International Correspondent John Irvine reports.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has sent 28 trucks loaded with food for those affected by Typhoon Hagupit in the Philippines:

Streets were flooded and entire regions lost all means of communication in the Philippines today as Typhoon Hagupit swept across the country.

More than a million people fled to shelters away from the coastline and landslide-prone villages and sought refuge in local evacuation centres.

According to Reuters, local radio had reported that at least four people were killed in Eastern Samar and Iloilo but this was unconfirmed by officials.

Typhoon Hagupit, known locally as Ruby, has made landfall.

The country's official Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported the arrival of the storm on its twitter feed.

Intense rain and strong winds are starting to sweep across the Philippines as Typhoon Hagupit prepares to make landfall.

Strong winds have already felled trees in the east of the country as the storm threatens to leave a wave of destruction in its wake.

Power has been cut across most of the central Philippine island of Samar and nearby Leyte province, with a local official saying "the wind is blowing so strongly, it's like it is whirling."