MANILA, May 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Three fishermen were reported missing as a typhoon hit the northeastern Philippines Monday morning, a local TV reported.

    The ABS-CBN news channel said that the Bicol region, eastern Luzon and northeastern Visayas, were battered by heavy rains and strong winds brought with typhoon "Dindo".

    The three fishermen were reportedly missing at sea as the typhoon passed near the central island of Leyte, ABS-CBN television reported but without official confirmation.

    Citing the Philippine weather bureau, Pagasa, the report said that the eye of the storm was spotted at 60 kilometers southeast of Virac town of Catanduanes province on Luzon islands as of 4:00 a.m., bearing strongest sustained winds of 170 kph.

    The typhoon is heading about 17 kilometers per hour towards Metro Manila, southern Luzon and the rest of northern and central Luzon as well as some provinces in northern Visayas and Mindanao, the Pagasa said.

    The Philippine authorities said that the typhoon had resulted in heavy damage to agricultural crops in the hitting areas, with strong winds blowing off roofs on wooden houses and the power supply disrupted.

    The coastal guard authority said that more than 5,000 people were also stranded by the typhoon and at least 18 ferries servicing in the Bicol region were forced to stay in ports. Enditem