Typhoon Noru: Evacuations in Philippines as explosive super typhoon nears

Thousands of people have been evacuated and government offices have been closed as a super typhoon bashes the Philippines eastern islands.

Typhoon Noru has caused gusts of up to 240kph on the main island Luzon, where more than half of the country's 110 million population live.

Forecasters say the storm experienced an "explosive intensification" as it made landfall west of Luzon.

The storm could cause landslides, flash flooding and dangerous storm surges.

More than 8,400 people have already been evacuated from its path, and officials have warned that the storm will also impact the country's capital, Manila.

Flights and ferry services have been cancelled. On Luzon - the most populous island - President Ferdinand Marcos suspended all government work and school classes were also cancelled.

[Source: BBC]