The typhoon's winds were measured at over 40 meters per second when it made landfall in the Dinagat Islands at 11 p.m. local time, according to the country's national meteorological institute.
On the east coast of the island of Samar, more than 70,000 households had been ordered to evacuate.
"We hear the strong winds and things falling. The electricity went out completely an hour ago – and we don't see anything," says Miriam Vargas from Dinagat.
Authorities are warning of torrential rain and potentially deadly storm surges. According to the official in charge, Rafaelito Alejandro, nearly 156,000 residents had left their homes to seek shelter.
On the island of Samar, three-meter-high waves are expected to hit land, according to civil authority representative Randy Nicart.
In some places we are now forced to evacuate residents.
As the typhoon continues inland, it looks set to pass the island of Cebu, where many are still recovering from a major earthquake on September 30.
