Thousands have been evacuated in the Philippines as a super typhoon, described by regional authorities as potentially "catastrophic", makes landfall in the country's northern region.
Super typhoon Ragasa, packing 230km/h (143mph) wind gusts, made landfall over Panuitan Island, in the Philippines' northern Cagayan province, on 15:00 local time (08:00 GMT) Monday, the country's weather authority said. It is expected to barrel west towards southern China,BBC reported.
Ragasa brings a "high risk of life-threatening storm surge" with peak heights exceeding 3m (10ft), the Philippine weather bureau said.
Authorities have warned of widespread flooding and landslides and damage to homes and infrastructure.
Schools and government offices in large parts of the country, including in the capital Manila, have been shut.
The remote Batanes or Babuyan islands, where Ragasa made landfall, are home to about 20,000 people, many of whom live in poverty.
The islands lie about 740km (460 miles) of Taiwan, where nearly 300 people have been evacuated from Hualien, a county in the east.
Ragasa is not expected to hit Taiwan directly but is set to drench the island's east coast with heavy rains.
Forest areas and nature trails across southern and eastern Taiwan have been closed since early Monday, while some ferry services have also been suspended.
