Manila, Nov 8 (IANS): At least three people died and seven others were injured as supertyphoon Haiyan hit vast areas of the central Philippines Friday, authorities said.

Rey Balido, spokesman for the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said they have so far accounted for three deaths, two from electrocution and one by lightning, and seven others injured in the typhoon, which packed a sustained wind of up to 235 kph, reports Xinhua.

Balido said 145,649 families from Mimapora, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindana and Caraga regions have gone to 581 evacuation centres ahead of the landfall of the typhoon. Many parts of the affected areas are without electricity, he added.

NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario said the effect of Haiyan was "very, very low" compared to Typhoon Ruping, which hit the same areas in 1990, leaving 508 people dead, 1,278 injured and 246 others missing.

Nevertheless, del Rosario said they are having difficulty contacting field units due to downed communication lines.