MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine authorities issued an urgent appeal on Saturday for residents in low-lying areas and coastal towns to move to safety as super typhoon Man-Yi gained strength on its approach towards the country's main Luzon island.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as Super Typhoon Man-yi is making landfall along the eastern coast of Catanduanes, Philippines on Saturday.

Ariel Nepomuceno, head of the Office of Civil Defense, urged residents in the typhoon's projected path to comply with evacuation orders as Man-Yi threatened to unleash heavy rains and powerful winds that could trigger floods and storm surges.