Typhoon Mangkhut

At least 25 people are known to have died but blocked roads and downed communications lines mean the true impact on rural areas is not yet clear.

Extensive crop damage is feared in the agricultural province of Cagayan.

The storm, which packs a 900km (550 mile) rain band and strong winds, is heading towards southern China.

It poses a "severe threat" to Hong Kong, the territory's observatory said, urging residents to stay on high alert.

 Almost all buildings in the city of Tuguegarao sustained some damage, a government official said, and communications were down in places.

However, there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths.

More than four million people are directly in the path of the storm, with sustained winds of 185km/h (115mph).

Thousands were evacuated amid warnings of 6m (20ft) storm surges.

The typhoon is forecast to barrel toward China across the weekend.

The deadliest storm on record in the country was Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed more than 7,000.

Ralph Torres sent the request to Donald Trump overnight as the storm passed over the island of Rota.

Mr Torres said the heightened and erratic state of the storm threatened destruction and the impact could become catastrophic.

The statement said the worst conditions from Typhoon Mangkhut had passed but windshield assessments indicated significant damage on Rota and some damage on the islands of Saipan and Tinian.

Schools and universities in the two US territories will be closed today as the storm approaches.

Forecasters say on the current trajectory it will make a direct hit on northern Guam and CNMI's Rota island.

The CNMI Governor Ralph Torres has raised the alert for the typhoon to condition 2.

Typhoon Mangkhut is forecast to bring destructive winds of 74 miles per hour or more possible within the next 24 hours.

Mr Torres has activated essential government agencies like the police, hospital, airports, and seaports.