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The death toll in the Philippines caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) went up to three people by mid-afternoon, according to the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

A mother and child drowned in South Cotabato and a boy was hit by a lightning in Zamboanga City.

About 145,000 people have been evacuated to high grounds. Particularly hard hit were the provinces of Tacloban and Bohol which was devastated in October by a magnitude 7 earthquake and many residents are still recovering from the first disaster.

Typhoon Haiyan hits the Philippines in this weather satellite image, courtesy of the Japan Meteorological Agency. November 7, 2013.

Haiyan, packing winds of 314 kph and gusts of up to 379 kph, could be the strongest storm to batter the Philippines, which averages 20 typhoons a year. The storm made its fifth landfall in Iloilo at about noon and sixth in Cuartero, Capiz at 1 pm. The first landfall was in Gukuan, Eastern Samar at 4:40 am, the second in Tolosa, Leyte at 7 am, the third in Daanbantayan, Cebu at 9:40 am and the fourth at Bantayan Island, Cebu at 10:40 am.

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With thousands of victims expected from the mega typhoon, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the government has three C-130 air force cargo planes, 32 military helicopters and planes and 20 naval vessels on standby for search and rescue as well as delivery of relief goods.

From Twitter, news snippets are streaming of the extent of damage caused by Yolanda.

GMA News reported that the Malinao dam in Pilar, Bohol had overflowed to the Bayongan dam in Mabini.

Debris float on a flooded road as strong winds and rain continue to batter buildings after Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban city, Leyte province. November 7, 2013.

The Phil Coast Guard said that as of 9 am there were 2,995 passengers stranded aboard 231 vessels and 63 motor bancas, which has gone up to 3,093 passengers by mid-afternoon.

Private citizens posted on YouTube footage of how Haiyan is battering their provinces.

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The National Grid reported that the Sorsogon national line tripped, affecting several areas, while there is also power outage in parts of Marinduque, Naujan, Danao City, Tuburan, Leyte, Eastern Samar and Camiguin.

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In Cebu, the water is now waist-deep due to river overflow, while in Davao Oriental, 8 houses near the seashore wee washed away.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport reported that 453 flights were cancelled.