A typhoon slammed into the Philippines' eastern coast yesterday night, threatening to worsen floods and landslides that have left more than 1,000 people dead or missing.

Residents of three coastal towns that suffered most of the casualties from heavy rains this week fled to higher ground to escape Typhoon Nanmadol's rains and 185 kph winds.

"Based on reports from our troops in the field, they have listed 479 dead and 560 missing in three towns in Quezon province," said military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Buenaventura Pascual.

With helicopters grounded and roads cut, disaster officials said they could do little to protect thousands of people who had lost their homes and were running out of food and drinking water.