The torrential rains of Typhoon Goni are pummeling the northern Philippines.
Seven people have died in the onslaught and two are missing, according to a report by the national disaster council.
Thousands have been evacuated or fled to higher ground.
The strong rains — which have triggered landslides and floods — caused a major river to overflow in Abra province, the area's governor said.
"The Abra river has turned into an ocean," Governor Eustaquio Bersamin told DZMM radio. "The rains were much stronger than we expected."
Goni is the ninth storm to hit the Philippines this year. The country usually sees about 20 storms and typhoons a year. In November 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever to hit land, swept across the central Philippines, leaving more than 7,300 people dead or missing.
The typhoon, with winds of up to 195 kilometers per hour, is moving slowly in the direction of Taiwan and Okinawa. Taiwan has already evacuated people from outlying islands.
