'A storm so large the Filipino government says more than half the country is at high risk'

There are now strong gusts of wind here as the front edge of Typhoon Hagupit approaches. It"s a storm so large the Filipino government says more than half the country is at high risk.

In a nation of coastal communities Legazpi is one of the largest on the Philippine's east coast, and it will face the full fury of the typhoon in a few hours time. Here is among the places that"ll be hit first and hit worst.

Tens of thousands of people are sheltering in state schools and other sturdy buildings like churches as they wait for Typhoon Hagupit to make landfall.

It"s just over a year since Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the central Philippines killing more than seven thousand people....painful memories of that are still fresh and the authorities have had little trouble persuading residents to evacuate homes near the coast, where a large tidal surge is expected.

Prodigious rain totals are also forecast, precipitating flooding and landslides, and as daylight fades here everyone is expecting a long and turbulent night.