DHAKA: About half a million people have fled coastal villages and evacuated their homes in the Philippines as a powerful storm approaches the archipelago, reports BBC.

Typhoon Hagupit, which weakened slightly on Friday night, is due to make landfall on Saturday evening.

It is on course for the Eastern and Northern Samar provinces and the city of Tacloban, where thousands were killed by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago.

Gusts peaked at 230km/h (143mph) but dropped to 195km/h (121mph) on Friday.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded after Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific cancelled more than 150 flights to the central and southern Philippines on Friday and Saturday, and sea travel services were suspended.

BDST: 0910 HRS, DEC 06, 2014