Late-season storm kills 11 in central Philippines

MANILA (AP) - A late-season storm expected to be the last of the year in the Philippines has killed 11 people but spared a southern region where more than 1,000 died in a powerful typhoon early this month, officials said on Friday.

The national disaster agency said three people were killed when a tree fell on their house in Eastern Samar province, where Tropical Storm Wukong made landfall on Christmas Day. Other deaths occurred due to drowning and landslides as the storm slashed through central islands.

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

"The worst is over," Civil Defence chief Benito Ramos said.