Super Typhoon Mangkhut has reached the Philippines, blasting the northern coast with strong winds and heavy rain.
With winds of 205km/h (130 mph) and gusts reaching to 255 km/h, Mangkhut is the world’s strongest storm so far this year, meteorologists say.
More than four million people are directly in the path of the storm – and thousands have been evacuated.
Officials have warned of storm surges of up to 6m (20ft) and “very heavy damage” to vulnerable structures.
They have raised alert levels to the second-highest – signal four – in Cagayan, northern Isabela, Apayao and Abra provinces.
The deadliest storm on record in the Philippines is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which also sparked category four alerts.
Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 7,000 people and affected millions in 2013.
