Three killed as typhoon pounds Philippines

THE strongest typhoon in years to crash into the Philippines killed at least three people yesterday, leaving a wasteland of fallen trees and power poles and sending thousands scampering to safety in near-zero visibility.

A retired general said bracing for the onslaught was like preparing for war.

Super Typhoon Megi, blowing across the northern Philippines, was forecast next to head toward China and Vietnam, where floods unrelated to the storm have caused 30 deaths.