Storm leaves six dead in central Philippines

MANILA (AP) - A late season storm has left at least six people dead in separate incidents in the central Philippines but has spared a southern region that was devastated by a typhoon that killed more than 1,000 people weeks earlier.

The national disaster agency said in a report on Thursday that three people died when a tree fell on their house in Eastern Samar province, where Tropical Storm Wukong made landfall on Christmas Day. Three others drowned in Iloilo province.

Civil Defence chief Benito Ramos said disaster officials were still investigating the death of man earlier reported killed in a landslide. He said it's possible that the man actually was beaten up and pushed off a ravine.

The storm has weakened into a low pressure area over the South China Sea off Palawan province, southwest of Manila.