People in the Philippines have battened down the hatches as Typhoon Megi heads towards the north of the country.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Monday afternoon with strong winds and heavy rain expected from Sunday afternoon. Winds are 140km per hour near its centre.
President Benigno Aquino has ordered relief goods and rescue equipment to be ready and for billboards to be taken down.
Mr Aquino says he does not want to unduly alarm the public, but there is nothing lost by being prepared.
Earlier this year, Mr Aquino sacked the head of the state weather bureau, accusing him of making a wrong forecast when Typhoon Conson unexpectedly struck the capital Manila, killing several dozen people and blacking out much of Luzon for three days.
