Manila: Two people were confirmed dead while more than a dozen were hurt as typhoon Mawar continues to affect parts of the Philippines after intensifying into a typhoon late Sunday morning.

Mawar, known locally as “Ambo” is the first typhoon to hit the country this year. It gathered strength and is now packing maximum winds of 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 150 km/h as it continues its north northeast drive at a slow pace at 13 km/h.

The typhoon brought rains dumping 20-30 millimetres of water per hour over an area 400km wide in the northeast portions of Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said.

Eugene Cabrera, director of the Office of Civil Defence in the province of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Mimaropa), said that the bodies of sisters Shaoun Marie, four, and two-year-old Princess Beyonce Abrera were recovered several metres away from their house in Sagrada village in Busuanga, Palawan.

The sisters, according to a radio report, were last seen around 8am on Sunday playing in their backyard near the river in Sitio Giwid.

Meanwhile, 30 fishermen who were earlier reported missing in Catanduanes were reported to have been rescued by authorities.

A report signed by Undersecretary Benito Ramos of the Office of Civil Defence said the 30 fishermen were stranded at sea after their vessel ran out of fuel amid inclement weather.

“All fishermen of F/B Crismar are safe as their vessel is being towed to safety,” said Ramos.

Other casualties of Mawar include five workers with the utility service Manila Water. The workers had suffered injuries after a bridge foundation collapsed in the area they were working at.

Earlier on Saturday, Federico Guttierrez and Cesar Bravo of Antipolo City east of Manila were hurt after a roadside rip rap holding their houses collapsed due to heavy rains.

According to Pagasa, Mawar was estimated at 390km east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4pm yesterday and is expected to be 510km east-northeast of Basco, Batanes by Monday afternoon.

The weather disturbance is end on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The typhoon arrived just as the country is about to start its 2012-13 school year as million of school children in the nursery, elementary, high school and college level are expected troop to schools Monday.

The government on Sunday had delegated the authority to call off classes during poor weather situations to officials in the city and municipal level.