RIYADH/MANILA: One of the strongest storms on record slammed into the central Philippines on Friday, killing at least four people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and knocking out power and communications in several provinces.

But the nation appeared to avoid a major disaster because the rapidly moving typhoon blew away before wreaking more damage, officials said.

Huge Typhoon Haiyan raced across a string of islands from east to west — Samar, Leyte, Cebu and Panay— and lashed beach communities. Nearly 750,000 people were forced to flee their homes.

Aircraft were grounded at the tarmac of the Manila airport’s Terminal 3 and about 200 domestic and international flights were canceled.

Filipinos traveling to the Philippines from Riyadh did not cancel their flights. There was no advisory from the airlines.

OFWs in Saudi Arabia are worried about their families back home, especially in the affected areas.

“Filipino workers who were unable to beat the status-correction deadline are really depressed and want to know when they are going to have their exit clearance while their thoughts are 8,000 km away on how their loved ones are coping with the typhoon,” OFWs International advocate, Rashid Arañas Fabricante, told Arab News.

Weather officials said Haiyan had sustained winds of 235 kph with gusts of 275 kph when it made landfall. That makes it the world’s strongest typhoon this year, said Aldczar Aurelio of the government’s weather bureau.

Due to cut-off communications, it was impossible to know the full extent of casualties and damage. At least two people were electrocuted in storm-related accidents, one person was killed by a fallen tree and another was struck by lightning, official reports said.

Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said the typhoon triggered landslides that blocked roads, uprooted trees and ripped roofs off houses around his residence. The dense clouds and heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said.

— With input from agencies