Thousands have been evacuated in the Philippines as the nation braces for a super typhoon described by regional authorities as potentially catastrophic.
Super typhoon Ragasa, packing 230km/h (143mph) wind gusts, is forecast to make landfall over sparsely populated northern islands on Monday before barreling west towards southern China.
Ragasa brings a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3m (10ft), according to the Philippine weather bureau.
Schools and government offices in large parts of the country, including the capital Manila, have been shut, and authorities warn of widespread flooding, landslides, and damage to homes and infrastructure.
The remote Batanes and Babuyan islands, forecast to be hit first, are home to about 20,000 people, many living in poverty.
The islands lie about 740km (460 miles) away from Taiwan, where nearly 300 residents have been evacuated from Hualien county.
Ragasa is not expected to hit Taiwan directly but will 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 been suspended.
A super typhoon is roughly equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane.
Authorities in China's Guangdong province have advised residents to prepare for catastrophic and large-scale disaster, with heavy rains and strong winds expected as early as Tuesday.
In Hong Kong, weather is projected to deteriorate rapidly on Tuesday, with the education bureau considering school arrangements.
Ragasa, known locally in the Philippines as Nando, arrives as the nation deals with the aftermath of weeks of severe flooding caused by an unusually intense monsoon.
Tens of thousands protested across the Philippines on Sunday against government corruption, which has contributed to inadequate flood control infrastructure.
