A super typhoon bore down on the northeastern Philippines packing winds of more than 250km/h and evacuations began before it makes landfall tomorrow morning.
Typhoon Megi is expected to be felt tonight in the north of the main island Luzon, a rice and corn growing area.
The government advised up to 7m people in its direct path to stock up on food and medicine.
Government forecasters said waves off the east coast could be greater than 14 metres, and advised against travel to the region as Megi could bring flash flooding, landslides and storm surges.
Manila was not expected to be affected by the typhoon.
Tropical Storm Risk said Megi had intensified into a category 5 super typhoon, the highest rating, with winds of more than 250km/h, and would retain that strength as it crossed north Luzon tomorrow.
The governor of northern Cagayan province, Alvaro Antonio, said the typhoon could cause great damage to the rice crop.
The Cagayan valley produces about of a third of the country's rice.
The head of the state grain agency said last month that rice output would be about 3.2 million tonnes short of a projected 17.4m tonnes this year.
Last year, the country lost 1.3m tonnes of paddy rice following three strong typhoons in September and October, prompting it to go to the market early to boost its rice stocks.
Megi is expected to make landfall by 8am (1am Irish time) Monday and cross north Luzon during the day. By evening it was expected to be over the South China Sea and heading towards China.
Megi, known locally as Juan, was estimated to have rainfall of about 20mm/h, forecasters said.
People living along the coast, near river banks and low-lying areas in the northern Cagayan and Isabela provinces have started moving to higher grounds, Benito Ramos, head of the national disaster agency, told reporters.
Trucks, rubber boats, amphibious vehicles and generators were sent to the north to help in the rescue and relief operations, he added.
