Tropical storm Aere slammed into the eastern Philippine seaboard on Sunday, bringing heavy rains and landslides that have so far killed three people and left over a thousand stranded, officials said.

The Philippines' state weather bureau said Aere made landfall over the island of Catanduanes before noon, and was expected to take a north-easterly path for the rest of the day. Three people were killed when heavy rains triggered a landslide in the province of Camarines Sur in the eastern Bicol region, where local officials scrambled to launch rescue and relief missions.

"The provincial road going to the (area) is not passable due to flooding," said Inspector Ayn Natuel, a spokesman at the Bicol regional police headquarters.

Aere, the first major weather disturbance of the year, hit Catanduanes, an island of about 250,000 people, with maximum winds of 85 kilometres (52.8 miles) per hour at its centre and gusts of up to 100 kilometres (62.13 miles) per hour.

Tropical Storm Aere hits Philippines

Storm alert warnings had been raised over at least 12 provinces in the main island of Luzon and the eastern Bicol, the civil defence office in Manila said.

People living in these areas were warned of possible flash floods and landslides, while those in coastal areas were told to brace for storm surges.

The coast guard had barred smaller boats from leaving ports in Catanduanes and nearby areas, leaving 1,379 people stranded, according to the government's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Domestic airlines also suspended at least six flights to Catanduanes and the eastern island of Samar.

In Manila, nine ground staff were injured when lightning struck a plane on the tarmac during a heavy downpour on Saturday night, radio reports said.