At least 20 people have been confirmed dead as the Philippines counted the cost of a devastating typhoon that ripped through the centre of the country on Christmas Day.

Typhoon Phanfone made landfall on Tuesday night, but the extent of the damage was only just becoming clear on Thursday.

Also known as Ursula, the storm brought winds of up to 200kph (125mph), heavy rain and widespread flooding.

It has left widespread property damage in its wake, having torn roofs from houses and knocked down electric posts.

Flights and ferries were cancelled and around 15,000 people were estimated to be stuck at ports, trying to get home for Christmas, when the storm passed through.

Philippines Elections Show all 14 1 /14 Philippines Elections Philippines Elections Filipinos look for their names and corresponding voting precincts on a board at a school in Manila, Philippines, 13 May 2019. Over 61 million Filipinos are expected to cast their vote in the country's mid-term elections, wherein over 43,000 candidates are vying for some 18,000 electoral posts including seats in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG FRANCIS R. MALASIG EPA Philippines Elections A crowd of media are seen around Former Philippine President and incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (C) after he cast his ballot at an elementary school turned into a voting precinct in Manila, Philippines, 13 May 2019. Over 61 million Filipinos are expected to cast their vote in the country's mid-term elections, wherein over 43,000 candidates are vying for some 18,000 electoral posts including seats in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG FRANCIS R. MALASIG EPA Philippines Elections Filipinos look for their names and corresponding voting precincts on a board at a school in Manila, Philippines, 13 May 2019. Over 61 million Filipinos are expected to cast their vote in the country's mid-term elections, wherein over 43,000 candidates are vying for some 18,000 electoral posts including seats in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG FRANCIS R. MALASIG EPA Philippines Elections Filipinos enter a polling precinct to cast their votes on May 13, 2019 in Manila, Philippines. About 60 millions of Filipino voters will head to the polls on May 13 for the congressional midterm elections and bring a set of winners and losers for lawmakers and local government officials in the Philippines. Based on reports, Mondays midterm elections will be a test on Filipino President Rodrigo Dutertes popularity as recent polls show that his administration remains popular ahead of the midterm elections despite receiving largely negative attention overseas. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) Ezra Acayan Getty Images Philippines Elections A Filipino Muslim woman fills out her ballot at an elementary school turned into a voting precinct in Manila, Philippines, 13 May 2019. Over 61 million Filipinos are expected to cast their vote in the country's mid-term elections, wherein over 43,000 candidates are vying for some 18,000 electoral posts including seats in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG FRANCIS R. MALASIG EPA Philippines Elections A Filipino Muslim mother fills out her ballot at an elementary school turned into a voting precinct in Manila, Philippines, 13 May 2019. Over 61 million Filipinos are expected to cast their vote in the country's mid-term elections, wherein over 43,000 candidates are vying for some 18,000 electoral posts including seats in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG FRANCIS R. MALASIG EPA Philippines Elections Filipinos fill out their ballots at an elementary school turned into a voting precinct in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines, 13 May 2019. Over 61 million Filipinos are expected to cast their vote in the country's mid-term elections, wherein over 43,000 candidates are vying for some 18,000 electoral posts including seats in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA ROLEX DELA PENA EPA Philippines Elections Imee Marcos, left front, the eldest daughter of ousted Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, poses with her family, including her mother and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, second from right, and brother Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., right, as she files her certificate of candidacy for senator at the Commission on Elections in Manila, Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Bullit Marquez AP Philippines Elections Activists are flashed on a screen as opposition senatorial candidate Florin Hilbay addresses them during their rally at the People Power Monument, three days before the May 13 mid-term elections in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Bullit Marquez AP Philippines Elections Randy Delos Santos walks with his daughter near an area where his 17-year-old nephew Kian Lloyd delos Santos was killed by police, during a drug crackdown in Quezon city, metropolitan Manila, Philippines. Three police officers were found guilty of killing delos Santos, a student they alleged was a drug dealer, in the first known such conviction under the president's deadly crackdown on drugs. President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Aaron Favila AP Philippines Elections A woman points at an image of 17-year-old Kian Lloyd delos Santos, together with other alleged victims of the government's crackdown on drugs in Quezon city, metropolitan Manila, Philippines. Three police officers were found guilty of killing delos Santos, a student they alleged was a drug dealer, in the first known such conviction under the president's deadly crackdown on drugs. President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Aaron Favila AP Philippines Elections A man walks past election banners in the slum district of Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's name is not on the ballot but Monday's mid-term elections are seen as a referendum on his phenomenal rise to power, marked by his gory anti-drug crackdown and his embrace of China. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Aaron Favila AP Philippines Elections Muslim-Filipinos check their names at a Manila polling precinct prior to voting in the country's midterm elections in Manila, Monday, May 13, 2019. Nearly 62 million Filipinos have registered to choose among 43,500 candidates vying for about 18,000 congressional and local posts in Monday's elections in one of Asia's most rambunctious democracies. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Bullit Marquez AP Philippines Elections A Filipino-Muslim checks her name on the list outside a polling precinct prior to voting Monday, May 13, 2019 in the country's midterm elections highlighted by a showdown between President Rodrigo Duterte's allies who aim to dominate the Senate and an opposition fighting for check and balance under a leader they regard as a looming dictator. Nearly 62 million Filipinos have registered to choose among 43,500 candidates vying for about 18,000 congressional and local posts in Monday's elections in one of Asia's most rambunctious democracies. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) Bullit Marquez AP

Only about 58,000 people were evacuated ahead of Phanfone’s arrival, officials said.

The deaths came in the central provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Leyte, and included a 13-year-old boy who was electrocuted, a man killed by a falling tree branch and another killed in a car accident, the country’s main disaster agency said.

According to Agence-France Press, Phanfone hit popular tourist destinations such as the islands of Boracay and Coron.

Internet access was cut on Boracay following the storm due to fallen telephone and electrical poles, and networks remained down on Thursday.

Authorities on a neighbouring island said ferry services to and from Boracay were still not operating on Thursday.

The typhoon left the Philippines on Wednesday night, heading west towards the South China Sea.

Phanfone has been described as a younger sibling of 2013’s super typhoon Haiyan, which is the country’s deadliest storm on record.

Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing.

The Philippines experiences about 20 major storms a year, many of which are deadly, and which have been becoming fiercer in recent years.