A POWERFUL typhoon lashed the northern islands of the Philippines today.

The tropical cyclone prompted officials to evacuate villagers, shut down schools and inter-island ferries and warn of “potentially very destructive” damage to coastal villages.

Typhoon Krathon was last tracked over the coastal waters of Balintang island, off the provinces of Cagayan and Batanes, with sustained winds of up to 109mph and gusts of up to 133mph.