Philippines typhoon kills more than 120

Aviation officials said that 100 bodies were lying in the streets of the city of Tacloban whilst local journalists reported 20 bodies in a nearby church.

The storm destroyed buildings and triggered landslides. The military has begun relief efforts.

Typhoon Haiyan was one of the most powerful storms on record to make landfall.

Aid agencies are struggling to reach Tacloban, as its airport has been badly damaged but military flights are able to operate.

Communications to some of the worst-hit areas were cut off when the storm hit and it may be days before the final death toll is known.

So far, only four people have been confirmed dead and another four are missing.

"We have reports of collapsed buildings, houses flattened to the ground, storm surges and landslides," a Philippine Red Cross chief Gwendolyn Pang said.

"But we don't know really, we can't say how bad the damage is... hopefully today we can get a better picture as to the effects of the super typhoon," Pang said.

The storm made landfall on the Philippines shortly before dawn on Friday, bringing gusts that reached 379 km/h (235 mph), with waves as high as 15m (45ft), bringing up to 400mm (15.75 inches) of rain in places.

Meteorologists had earlier warned that the storm could be as devastating as Typhoon Bopha in 2012, which ravaged parts of the southern Philippines and left at least 1,000 people dead.

Schools and offices were closed, while ferry services and local flights were suspended. Hospitals and soldiers were on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

Power and communication lines were also cut to some areas.

Haiyan raged across Leyte and Samar, turning roads into rivers, and battered Cebu city, the country's second largest with a population of 2.5 million.