The Philippines and several other East Asian destinations have been evacuated as the most powerful global typhoon of the year is set to make landfall.

Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and Vietnam could all be hit by Super Typhoon Ragasa, which is set to batter the northern Philippines with winds of over 168mph.

The category five super typhoon, the highest ranking to measure a storm, is working its way westwards towards Hong Kong, Macau and southern China.

It is expected to remain in the South China Sea until at least Wednesday.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which provides travel advice for Britons abroad, issued a warning to tourists in the area.

The FCDO said: "Typhoon Ragasa is currently expected to bring heavy rainfall and devastating wind impacts to the Batanes or Babuyan Islands in the northern Philippines from Monday 22 to Tuesday September 23.

"Typhoons can change course and intensity. Follow the advice of local authorities, and monitor the progress of storms on the Philippines' state weather agency and the Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

"You can find updates on typhoon2000.ph, or follow Typhoon2k on X. If you are due to travel, check for messages from your travel provider."

Heavy waves have been battering coastlines

The Chinese city of Sehnzhen has evacuated 400,000 people from its coastal and low-lying regions, with offices, schools and public transport closed.

More than 8,200 people have been evacuated to safety in Cagayan, the Philippines, and over 1,200 have fled to emergency shelters in Apayao.

Hong Kong International Airport has suspended all passenger flights for 36 hours, according to Qantas Airways.

Taiwan has suspended domestic flights to its outlying islands and suspended 88 ferry services.

A man travelling with his dog in the flooded waters of the Philippines

The Philippines' weather agency said: "There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding three metres within the next 24 hours".

Calayan Island, in the Balintang Channel, and the province of Apayao in the north of Luzon island, have lost power but there have been no report of casualties.

Flood warnings are in place for the low-lying areas on the islands.

Residents of the affected areas are used to serious storms, experiencing more than a dozen so far this year.

Flood warnings are in place across the Philippines

However, Super Typhoon Ragasa is poised to be the worst one so far.

The last storm with winds as strong and a radius as wide to strike Taiwan was Typhoon Hinnamnor in 2022.

While the island reported no casualties, at least 10 were killed in South Korea.

In 2021, Typhoon Rai killed more than 400 people as winds of more than 174mph pelted the islands.