Typhoon Usagi weakened sharply on Friday after bearing down on the Philippines' northern towns, blowing away houses in its path as authorities brace for another storm that could hit the capital Manila over the weekend.

Super Typhoon Usagi made landfall in the Philippines on Thursday as authorities ordered evacuations in many of the country’s northeastern towns. Usagi is the fifth typhoon in a month to hit the archipelago nation.

MANILA: The Philippines raised its highest storm alert and evacuated thousands of people on Thursday (Nov 14), as Super Typhoon Usagi barrelled towards its already disaster-ravaged north.