Typhoon Mangkhut, considered as the strongest and most massive so far this season, could hit northeastern Cagayan province on Saturday. It was tracked on Thursday about 725 kilometers (450 miles) away in the Pacific with sustained winds of 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 255 kph (158 mph). (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

The Pacific Daily News reported government agencies were conducting damage assessments and beginning to clear roads. It has caused widespread flooding and power loss, with parts of the US territory still without electricity on Thursday morning. Mangkhut, a Thai word for the mangosteen fruit, is the 15th storm this year to batter the Philippines, which is hit by about 20 a year and is considered one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
Super Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong) approaches the Philippines as one of the strongest in its history, with sustained winds of 205 kilometres per hour (127 mph) and gusts of up to 285 km/h (177 mph).