Deluge fears over Philippines typhoon

Forecasters fear Typhoon Haima may cause widespread devastation in the Philippines like Typhoon Haiyan did three years ago.

A Filipino villager rides on a water buffalo during typhoon Sarika in the town of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija province, Philippines, 16 October 2016. Source: EPA

Philippine forecasters are warning that a super typhoon set to slam into the country's northeast may bring widespread damage similar to that wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

They said Typhoon Haima, which was packing sustained winds of 225 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 315 km/h, was tracked 275 kilometres over the Philippine Sea late on Wednesday and they expected it to hit coast about midnight.

The government's weather agency has raised the highest of a five-level storm warning over northern provinces.

A massive evacuation is also underway in the region.

In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the central Philippines with ferocious power, leaving more than 7300 people dead or missing.