Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine authorities on September 14raised its storm warning and warned of major destruction, hours before super typhoonMangkhut was due to make landfall with fierce winds and drenching rains.

The country’s state weather service raised a "signal four"alert, the second-highest storm warning for winds of up to 220 kilometres perhour, for Cagayan and northern Isabela coastal provinces.

A signal four alert was issued for super typhoon Haiyan, which was the country'sdeadliest on record. It left more than 7,350 people dead or missing across thecentral Philippines in November 2013.

More than 9,000 people have been moved to temporary shelters. Localauthorities also warned that tens of thousands of other people will beevacuated to safe places.

Meanwhile, 5.2 million people in the path of a "verydestructive" typhoon were advised to stay indoors, as the country bracedfor heavy rain and damage to infrastructure and crops.

The stormfurther picked up speed and was about 340 km east of the Philippines late afternoonon September 14. It is expected to barrel through the northernmost tip of thePhilippines on September 15 morning, carrying 205 kph wind speeds, and gusts ofup to 255 kph, that it has maintained since it struck Micronesia earlier in theweek.-VNA