Typhoon Mangkhut: Storm makes landfall in Philippines with more than five million people at risk

Most powerful storm of the year brings winds of up to 160mph to southeast Asia

Typhoon Mangkhut has made landfall in the Philippines with more than five million people in the powerful storm's path braced for impact.

The cyclone slammed into the coastline before dawn on Saturday, bringing sustained winds in excess of 125mph, while gusts close to 160mph.

Forecasters believe Mangkhut is the most powerful typhoon so far this year and a massive evacuation effort has been underway from high-risk areas over the past two days

Witnesses in Cagayan province where the storm first hit reported strong gales and driving rain had already ripped tin roofs from houses and knocked out power.

In the region’s capital, Tuguegarao, residents prepared for the typhoon having previously been hit by a massive storm in 2016.

“We're praying that there will be less damage this time, although we know that this one will be very strong,” said Benjamn Banez, who runs a hotel in the city.

With a huge rain cloud band 560 miles wide, combined with seasonal monsoon rains, Mangkhut could bring heavy to intense rain that could set off landslides and flash floods.

Metrologists fear storm surges could cause sea levels to rise six metres higher than normal in some coastal areas.

Storm warnings have been raised in almost all the provinces across the main northern island of Luzon, including the capital, Manila, restricting sea and air travel.

Philippine government forecaster, Rene Pacient, said the typhoon would remain extremely destructive, even if it weakened slightly on landfall.

“It can lift cars, you can't stand, you can't even crawl against that wind,” he told reporters late on Friday.

After the Philippines, the Hong Kong Observatory predicts Mangkhut will reach the Chinese mainland by Monday north of the island province of Hainan.

Though it is likely to weaken from a super typhoon to a severe typhoon, it will still bring sustained winds of around 109 mph, the observatory said.

On the Chinese mainland, the three southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan are coordinating preparations, including suspending transport and moving people to shelter inland.

Additional reporting by AP