MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A powerful typhoon was lashing the northernmost islands of the Philippines Monday, prompting officials to evacuate villagers, shut down schools and inter-island ferries and warn of “potentially very destructive” damage to coastal villages.

The slow-moving Krathon was blowing westwards and could strengthen into a super typhoon, government forecasters said.

Typhoon Krathon was last tracked over the coastal waters of Balintang island off the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes with sustained winds of up to 175 kph (109 mph) and gusts of up to 215 kph (133 mph),

Taiwan’s authorities shuttered some schools and canceled domestic flights as an intensifying Typhoon Krathon moves toward the island while bringing violent wind and rain to the Philippines.

MANILA: A powerful typhoon was lashing the northernmost islands of the Philippines Monday (Sept 30), prompting officials to evacuate villagers, shut down schools and inter-island ferries and warn of "potentially very destructive” damage to coastal villages.

Staff stock canned food at a supermarket ahead of Typhoon Krathon which is expected to intensify and make an unusual landfall on Taiwan's densely populated west coast in the early hours of Wednesday,

Tropical storm Krathon is headed for the Philippines as authorities place northern parts of the main Luzon island on alert, saying there’s a high chance of rapid intensification and the possibility it could become a super typhoon.

Taiwan braces for powerful storm after ‘very destructive’ rainfall in Philippines - Typhoon Krathon will cross through Taiwan’s densely populated west coast, including major port city of Kaohsiung