A ferry carrying some 700 people has become stranded off the coast of the Philippines after being hit by huge waves from a typhoon, officials say.

The ship was "dead in the water" after its engine failed near the island of Sibuyan on Saturday, an official told the Associated Press news agency.

It was not immediately known if there were any casualties on the vessel.

Typhoon Fengshen has killed at least 17 people in the Philippines, causing flash floods and landslides.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from the path of the typhoon.

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Small bombs hit south Philippines ... to 170kph (106mph) have caused much damage in southern and central areas. Many roads are blocked and there are widespread power cuts.

Domestic flights to central regions have been cancelled and inter-island ferry services halted, officials say.

Ten people drowned after a river burst its banks and swept away houses in southern Maguindanao province. Several other people were reported missing by the local authorities.

A landslide has also buried several houses in Cotabato city, also in the south, killing at least two people, officials said.

(BBC)

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