Thousands evacuate in the Philippines as the storm approaches

Thousands have been evacuated to the Philippines as the nation is bumping for a super typhoon described by regional authorities as a potentially “catastrophic”.

Super Typhoon Ragasa, wrapping 230 km/h (143MP) wind gusts, is predicted to make the land over the rarely populated northern islands on Monday before moving west to southern China.

Ragasa carries a “high risk of life -threatening storm” with peak heights over 3 m (10 feet), said the Philippine Bureau of the time.

Schools and government services in large parts of the country, including the capital Manila, are closed and authorities have warned of widespread floods and landslides and damage to homes and infrastructure.

The remote Batans or the Babian Islands, where Ragasa is predicted to make the land, are home to about 20,000 people, many of whom live in poverty.

The islands lie about 740 km (460 miles) from Taiwan, where nearly 300 people are evacuated by Hualien, the county to the east.

Ragasa is not expected to hit directly in Taiwan, but is ready to soak on the east coast of the island with heavy rains.

Forest areas and natural paths in South and Eastern Taiwan have been closed since the beginning of Monday, while some ferry services have also been stopped.

Super typhoon in the equivalent of a hurricane of category 5.

Authorities in the Chinese province of Guangdong advised residents to prepare for “catastrophic” and “large -scale disasters”. The heavy rains and high winds will be felt on Tuesday, two days before the storm is predicted to make the land.

In Hong Kong, the authorities say the weather will “get worse” on Tuesday while the education bureau said it was discussing school arrangements.

Ragasa, known locally in the Philippines as Nando, comes when the Southeast Asian nation is directed for weeks of widespread flood caused by an unusually fierce monsoon.

Tens of thousands of protest across the country on Sunday against Corruption in government This is charged with a strong lack of flood control infrastructure.