The president of the Philippines has hit out at ally Barack Obama in his latest tirade against the US over its criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign.

Big waves have smashed a passenger boat into rocky outcrops and sunk the vessel in stormy weather in the south-western Philippines, killing at least five people, officials said today.

Deadly Typhoon Fengshen was heading for Taiwan and south-east China today after leaving a trail of destruction in the Philippines where hopes faded of finding more survivors from a capsized passenger ship.

THE PHILIPPINE president yesterday flew to the devastated island of Leyte, where authorities declared a calamity following weekend floods and mudslides that killed at least 160 people in the region.