Most of the fatalities drowned over the weekend in the eastern provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, before Mitag changed course and roared into the coastal town of Palanan, further north in Isabela province.

Two villagers also were reported missing Monday when their house was swept away by raging river currents in the northern mountain province of Apayao, officials said.

Mitag weakened gradually, its maximum sustained winds still dangerous at 120 kilometres (74 miles) per hour with gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph), chief government forecaster Nathaniel Cruz said.

After hitting land, it veered toward the country's mountainous northern provinces, where authorities evacuated thousands of people due to fears of landslides.

The typhoon flooded at least 50 villages in Isabela, a province of more than a million people. A swollen river in the provincial capital, Ilagan, engulfed at least 10 houses, whose residents fled to safety late Sunday, officials said, adding that most of Isabela had no power.

In nearby Cagayan province, two villagers drowned Sunday. Strong winds toppled trees and knocked down power posts, cutting off electricity in the province of nearly a million, Gov. Alvaro Antonio said. The province's rice industry suffered losses.

The Agriculture Department estimated losses at US$2.5 million, still a fraction of the US$246 million incurred during last year's typhoons.