Three die in Philippine typhoon

The typhoon has swept across the central and south Philippines

The fourth typhoon of the season in the South China Seas has killed three people in the Philippines.

Reports speak of 13 miners trapped in a flooded gold mine shaft in the north of the country.

Typhoon Hagupit is now gathering strength and is heading towards Hong Kong, where kindergartens and possibly container ports are being closed.

Meteorologists say the typhoon season in the area has been remarkably active this year.

Landslides were the main cause of the typhoon's fatalities in the Philippines, and prompted hundreds of people to flee their homes.

Rescue attempt

The mine in Benguet province in the northern Philippines was flooded by heavy rains brought by Typhoon Hagupit.

Thirteen men failed to return home on Monday night, said George Baywong, an official of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, who is coordinating rescue efforts.

"We don't know if they are alive or dead," Mr Baywong told The Associated Press.

"We are hoping for the best - that there are air pockets there where they sought refuge," he said.

The Philippines coastguard also had to rescue 21 people from cargo and fishing vessels.

The typhoon was heading towards Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, where the Hong Kong Observatory raised its strong warning wind signal number 3.

This means winds of up to 62 km/h ( 39 mph) are expected and flight schedules could be affected.

The Observatory said consideration would be given to raising a Number 8 signal by late afternoon - this would mean the closure of all schools, government offices and the stock market.

Hagupit means "lashing" in Filipino, is the fifth serious typhoon in the region this year.

In August, Hong Kong had a Number 9 typhoon - the highest level of warning is Number 10.

In June, about 600 people were killed and about $325m worth of property and farms were destroyed by a typhoon that hit the central Philippines.

Seven cargo vessels and a ferry carrying 800 people also sank.