The super typhoon is expected to hit the Philippines

The storm, which is classified as a so-called super typhoon, is considered to be the strongest to hit the area in the last 20 years. Over the past week, Mawar wreaked havoc on the US island territory of Guam, where hundreds of homes and infrastructure were destroyed.

Although the storm is expected to ease, Philippine authorities are warning of storm surges, flooding and landslides as the super typhoon passes through the northernmost province of Batanes on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Philippines is hit annually by typhoons and tropical storms. One of the deadliest was Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which is believed to have killed over 7,000 people.

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