Typhoon Phanfone: At least 10 die as killer storm causes devastation in the Philippines on Christmas Day

At least 10 people have been killed as a typhoon hit the Philippines over Christmas.

Typhoon Phanfone – also known as Ursula – hit the country late on Tuesday and continued to cause devastation throughout Christmas Day, bringing driving rain and flooding as gusts exceeded 100mph according to officials.

The death toll was reported on Thursday as between 10 and 16 – including a three-year-old boy – with the central provinces of Iloilo, Leyte and Capiz the worst affected.

One family was swept away by a flash flood as they sought safety on higher ground, according to the Filipino ABS-CBN network.

Residents wade through a flooded highway, caused by heavy rains due to typhoon Phanfone, in Ormoc City, Leyte province (AFP via Getty Images)

More than 58,000 people had to evacuate their homes as the storm bore down on the Philippines.

Thousands of people trying to get home for Christmas were stranded at ports as ferry services were halted. Scores of flights were also cancelled.

Damage caused outside Kalibo International Airport in Kalibo, the capital of Aklan province (Courtesy of Jung Byung-joon/AFP)

Phanfone struck near regions left devastated by Typhoon Haiyan six years ago. That was the strongest-ever storm to make landfall in the Philippines, killing 6,000 people and destroying 200,000 homes.

Phanfone has now moved out to the South China Sea.