Typhoon Hagupit knocked out power in coastal provinces, mowed down trees and sent more than 650,000 people into shelters as it roared through the Philippines, but lessons from last year’s disaster seem to have avoided mass deaths.

At face value, it may have appeared more than a little crass of the Asian Tour to go ahead with the Manila Masters last week in the wake of the devastation that visited other parts of the Philippines in the form of Typhoon Haiyan.

Rescuers in the central Philippines counted at least 100 people dead and many more injured today, a day after one of the most powerful typhoons on record ripped through the region, wiping away buildings and levelling seaside homes with massive storm surges.

The strongest typhoon this year slammed into the central Philippines yesterday, setting off landslides and knocking out power and communication lines in several provinces. At least four people died.

The strongest typhoon this year has slammed into the central Philippines, setting off landslides and knocking out power and communication lines in several provinces. At least four people have died.