Thousands flee super-typhoon Megi in Philippines

Thousands took shelter in school buildings today as the Philippines was hit by a "super typhoon".

At least three people died, with one man being killed while trying to rescue his water buffalo from a swollen river and electricity was cut off across Isabela province, 200 miles north-east of Manila.

Thousands of army reserves were on standby, said Benito Ramos, a disaster response official. "This is like preparing for war," he said. "We know the past lessons and we're aiming for zero casualties."

President Benigno Aquino fired the head of the weather bureau in July for failing to predict a typhoon that killed more than 100 people.

In Vietnam, flooding swept away a bus leaving 20 people missing, including a girl pulled from her mother's grasp.