Typhoon Haima leaves at least 7 dead in northern Philippines

VIGAN, Philippines -- Super Typhoon Haima weakened and blew out to sea Thursday after smashing into the northern Philippines with ferocious wind and rain overnight.

Flooding, landslides and power outages were evident, but large casualties appeared to have been averted after nearly 100,000 people fled to safer ground.

Haima's blinding winds and rain had rekindled fears of the catastrophe wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, but there were no immediate reports of any major damage.

Several villages are cut off by fallen trees, landslides and floods, impeding communications and aid.

Although storms are a part of life in the country's north, many villagers still were horrified by Haima's fury.

"In my age -- I'm 60 years old -- this is the strongest typhoon I have ever seen," village councilor Willie Cabalteja said in Vigan city in Ilocos Sur province. "We haven't slept. Trees were forced down, houses lost their roofs, and fences and metal sheets were flying around all night."

At least seven people were killed in the storm, officials said. But the evacuations from high-risk communities helped prevent a larger number of casualties.