Red Alert as Typhoon Kopu nears in Philippine

The Philippines is preparing for a typhoon that is forecast to dump heavy rain and cause severe flooding.

President Benigno Aquino warned that Typhoon Koppu –– which is due to hit early on today –– could bring up to 12 hours of torrential rain.

Local authorities have been urged to evacuate residents in flood-prone areas along the country’s north-eastern coast.

The Philippines is still reeling from Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people in November 2013. Haiyan, the strongest storm ever recorded on land, destroyed entire towns.

Typhoon Koppu has produced winds of up to 180km/h (115mph) and is slow moving, meaning it could bring intense rain over a long period of time. The wind could be strong enough to blow down trees, rip roofs off buildings and threaten power supplies