“Typhoon Hagupit weakened into a tropical storm Monday, leaving at least 21 people dead and forcing more than a million people into shelters but sparing most of a central Philippine region still haunted by last year's monster storm. While the worst was over in central island provinces, where the sun peeked Monday after days of stormy weather, Manila and outlying provinces braced as Hagupit, or “smash” in Filipino, blew nearer with maximum sustained winds of 105 kilometers (65 miles) per hour and gusts of 135 kph (84 mph). Forecasters said the storm was expected to slam into a Batangas provincial town about 110 kilometers (68 miles) south of Manila by nightfall. Although considerably weaker from its peak power, the storm remains potentially dangerous and could still whip storm surges that could overwhelm coastal villages, they said.

While officials expressed relief that the typhoon had not caused major damage, they warned that Hagupit was still on course to barrel into the southern tip of the main northern island of Luzon where Manila is located, before starting to blow away Tuesday into the South China Sea. Hagupit (pronounced HA'-goo-pit), which made landfall in Eastern Samar late Saturday, was moving slowly at 10 kph (6 mph) and could dump heavy rain that could possibly trigger landslides and flash floods, according to forecasters. Traumatized by the death and destruction from Typhoon Haiyan last year, more than 1 million people fled to emergency shelters and safer ground. Many have started to troop back home after the typhoon had blown past their provinces, Philippine Red Cross Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang said”. – Teresa Cerojano via The Associated Press

In this Sunday, December 7, 2014 photo, Filipino residents use plastic sheets to protect them from rains and strong winds brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Children play on a boat in a shanty town at the port area in Manila on December 7, 2014 ahead of the arrival of typhoon hagupit. Shanties at the bay of Manila will be affected as typhoon hagupit will pass near Manila. Typhoon Hagupit tore apart homes and sent waves crashing through coastal communities across the eastern Philippines on December 7, creating more misery for millions following a barrage of deadly disasters. (Photo by Noel Celis/AFP Photo)

A man reacts as he strong winds and rain from Typhoon Hagupit hit shore in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Residents living along coastal areas in Manila evacuate to safer grounds as the local government ordered the pre-emptive evacuation in anticipation of Typhoon Hagupit which is expected to make its fourth landfall Monday, December 8, 2014 in Manila, Philippines. Typhoon Hagupit weakened into a storm Monday after it left at least three people dead and sent more than a million others into shelters, sparing the central Philippines the massive devastation that a monster storm inflicted on the region last year. (Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP Photo)

A boy plays next to a seawall in a shanty town at the port area in Manila on December 7, 2014 ahead of the arrival of typhoon hagupit. (Photo by Noel Celis/AFP Photo)

Children queue for food at an evacuation centre for the coastal community, to shelter from typhoon Hagupit, near Manila, December 8, 2014. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos began to return to their homes battered by a powerful typhoon at the weekend, but the nation collectively breathed a sigh of relief as a massive evacuation plan appeared to minimise fatalities. (Photo by Cheryl Gagalac/Reuters)

Children look out of a window at an evacuation centre for the coastal community, to shelter from typhoon Hagupit, near Manila, December 8, 2014. (Photo by Cheryl Gagalac/Reuters)

Volcanic rocks are washed onto a main road during a flash flood brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Guinobatan, Albay province southern Luzon December 7, 2014. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

A policeman carries a tree branch that fell due to strong winds brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A man holds on to a pole as strong winds blow brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A resident jumps as he watches strong waves crash into shore as an effect of Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. Typhoon Hagupit knocked out power in entire coastal provinces, mowed down trees and sent more than 650,000 people into shelters before it weakened Sunday, sparing the central Philippines a repetition of unprecedented devastation by last year's storm. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Young evacuees stay at a school as they take shelter from Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Filipino boys fetch water at a school used as an evacuation center as Typhoon Hagupit pounds Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Residents begin cleaning their homes after strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Monday, December 8, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A Filipino resident dumps debris which he retrieved from his house as strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines Monday, December 8, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A Filipino man brings out sand which he retrieved from his house after strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Monday, December 8, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A Filipino man clears away debris from the remains of his damaged home as strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Monday, December 8, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A Filipino man carries a dirty plastic sheet from his house after strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Monday, December 8, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Strong waves caused by Typhoon Hagupit approach a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

A family walks along a flooded street during a heavy rain brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Filipino residents evacuate to safer ground in the town of Marabot, Samar island, Philippines, 06 December 2014. Typhoon Hagupit is speeding up and expected to make landfall in the eastern Philippines later 06 December, a senior weather official said. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)

Motorists pass by toppled electrical posts due to strong winds brought by Typhoon Hagupit in Camalig, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Strong winds and waves brought by Typhoon Hagupit pound the seawall in Legazpi City, Albay province southern Luzon December 7, 2014. The powerful typhoon tore through the central Philippines on Sunday, bringing howling winds that toppled trees and power and cut off communications in areas where thousands were killed by a massive storm just over a year ago. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Filipino residents walk in a flooded street after Typhoon Hagupit made landfall, in Borongan city, Samar island, Philippines, 07 December 2014. Typhoon Hagupit knocked out power and flattened houses as it pummelled the eastern and central Philippines overnight, leaving millions of people in darkness amid heavy rains and howling winds, officials said. At least three people were killed and two injured as powerful typhoon lashed the eastern and central Philippines. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)

A Filipino residents clears a fallen coconut tree on a house in Borongan city, Samar island, Philippines, 07 December 2014. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)