The storm lashed the northern Philippines Sunday, with the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union in Luzon island bearing the brunt of its fury.

Strong winds whipped up by the storm blew away tin roofs and uprooted trees and electricity posts, while the heavy rains flooded large areas, cutting off thousands, it said.

Rescuers said they had plucked from the sea two crew members of the cargo vessel Edago Expedition, which was reported lost at the height of the storm after sailing off the port of Mindoro Sunday.

It was not clear how many were aboard the vessel, the coast guard said, adding that search and rescue operations were continuing.

As of early Monday, Halong was moving northeastward away from the Philippines, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers (58.9 miles) per hour near the centre and gusts of up to 120 kilometers (182 miles) an hour.

The storm "has accelerated as it continues to move northeastward" away from the country, and was expected to be around 400 kilometers (248 miles) southeast of Okinawa, Japan by Tuesday morning.

Large areas remained without power or vital communication lines Monday, with schools used as evacuation centres, the civil defence office said.

Damage to infrastructure and agriculture "are expected to be extensive," it added.

Some 34,756 people were affected in 12 towns and three cities in five provinces, it said.

The state weather bureau said gale-force winds were expected to create huge waves that may affect the western seaboard of Luzon island, with sea conditions expected to be very rough.

strs-jvg/kw/cc

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