A powerful typhoon ploughed through the central Philippines earlier today, bringing howling winds that toppled trees and power lines and cut off communications in areas where thousands were killed by a massive storm just over a year ago.

As Typhoon Hagupit swept in from the Pacific, power was cut across most of the central island of Samar and nearby Leyte province, including Tacloban City, considered ground zero of the devastating super typhoon Haiyan last year.

The storm damaged houses and scattered debris across the city.

In Albay province, intense winds tore through Legazpi City, although no casualties have been reported so far.

Heavy rain and strong winds buffeted Sorsogon City in the east. Raging floodwaters inundated roadways, preventing evacuees from returning to their homes right after the storm.

Local officials said that widespread flooding and debris blocking roads would make reaching affected areas difficult in the immediate aftermath.

More than one million people had fled to temporary shelters away from coastal areas and landslide-prone villages