Typhoon misery for Philippines on Christmas day

Typhoon Phanfone has attacked the central Philippines on Christmas day, bringing a wet and miserable holiday season to millions in the mainly catholic nation.

Thousands were stranded at shuttered ports or evacuation centers at the height of the festive season this morning.

The typhoon toppled houses and trees and blacked out cities in the Philippines’ most storm-prone region, but no deaths were reported.

Though getting weaker, phanfone was tracking a similar path as super typhoon haiyan, the country’s deadliest cyclone on record which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.