The threat of typhoon Mawar/ The alarm is raised in this country, thousands of people are evacuated, here's what to expect

Philippine officials began evacuating thousands of villagers, closing schools and offices as Typhoon Mawar approached the country's northern provinces a week after hitting the US territory of Guam.

Current forecasts show the typhoon turning northeast toward Taiwan or southern Japan.

Although it is expected to slow significantly, authorities warned of dangerous tidal waves, flooding and landslides as it passes the northernmost province of Batanes until May 31.

Mawar tore through Guam last week as the strongest typhoon to hit the US Pacific territory in more than two decades, destroying roofs and damaging power poles.

Army troops, police, firefighters and volunteer groups were standing by for search and rescue operations in the northern provinces, and more than one million food parcels were prepared just in case, officials said.

More than 4,800 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters in Cagayan, Batanes and other provinces.

About 20 typhoons and storms hit the Philippine archipelago every year, which also lies on seismic rifts where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur, making the Southeast Asian country one of the most disaster-prone in the world.