MANILA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Super typhoon Durian on Thursday was approaching the Philippine's capital region, as residents in provinces to the south of Manila suffering from strong winds and flooding, local reports said.

    In Catanduanes and Albay, the two provinces in the central Philippines to be hit first by Durian, electric power was cut off while residents in coastal areas were evacuated to higher grounds before dawn Thursday in preparation for the typhoon, radio dzRH reported.

    It said that winds in Catanduanes, placed under storm signal number 4, were powerful enough to blow branches off large trees.

    More than 1,800 passengers were reported stranded in the central region as the Coast Guard prevented seagoing vessels from leaving ports in areas affected.

    In Southern Luzon, the Coast Guard stopped inter-island ferry services. In Metro Manila, airlines delayed or canceled their domestic flights heading for the central Philippines.

    Durian was moving west northwest towards Camarines Norte, southeast of Manila at a pace at 17 kph, state weather forecasters said on Thursday morning, adding that the super typhoon will continue to march closer to Metro Manila.

    Forecasters expected Durian to hover within 68 km east of the Philippine capital by Friday morning.