27 July 2011 Last updated at 05:52 ET

Philippines reels after deadly storm Nock-ten

Albay province saw streets submerged in severe flooding

More than 20 people have been killed and tens of thousands have fled their homes after a tropical storm battered the Philippines for a third day.

Tropical storm Nock-Ten caused floods and landslides across the island of Luzon.

Power supplies were cut off in many areas on Tuesday, dozens of flights and ferries were cancelled, and schools and offices were closed.

Forecasters say the storm should pass into the South China Sea on Thursday.

The storm hit Camarines Norte province earlier in the week with gusts of 56mph (90km/h).

A disaster-response official described it as the province's worst flooding in five years.

Regional civil defence chief Rafaelito Alejandro said at least 20 people had died in Bicol region - most of whom had been buried in landslides.

He said floodwaters in many areas had now begun to recede.

The Associated Press news agency reported that other fatalities included a mother who was bitten by a poisonous snake that was swept into her home by a flashflood near the Albay provincial capital of Legazpi.

Officials fear that the death toll could rise, and many of the dead are likely to be fishermen who were out at sea when the storm hit.

Schools and offices began to reopen on Wednesday in Manila, as the storm's path passed well north of the capital.

The Philippines is regularly hit by powerful storms during the typhoon season. Nock-Ten, named after a bird from Laos, is the tenth storm of the season.