Typhoon Maysak: Super storm photographed from space as it batters Micronesia

A MONSTROUS typhoon has hit Micronesia with such force that astronauts have been able to capture the storm from space. See the incredible photos.

A MONSTROUS typhoon has hit Micronesia with such force that astronauts have been able to photograph the storm from space.

The enormity of super Typhoon Maysak, blamed for the deaths of at least four people, was captured by Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who shared her incredible photos from the International Space Station overnight.

“It commands respect even from space,” she wrote of the powerful typhoon, which ravaged the cluster of small islands in the Pacific and is now approaching the Philippines.

This image taken Tuesday March 31, 2015 shows Typhoon Maysak taken by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti from the International Space Station. The Pacific Daily News newspaper in Guam reports the storm was upgraded Tuesday to a super typhoon with winds of 150 mph and was moving west-northwest at 15 mph. Officials say super Typhoon Maysak is expected to significantly weaken before reaching the Philippines around Sunday. (AP Photo/NASA, Samantha Cristoforetti) .

Awesome force ... the storm has been upgraded to a super typhoon with winds of 260kph. Picture: AP

Paul Stanko of the National Weather Service said Maysak packed winds of 160 kilometres per when it passed north of the Yap State atolls of Ulithi and Fais in the Federated States of Micronesia early on Wednesday. There have been no reports of casualties in Yap.

“When the typhoon passed this morning winds were still strong for people to go out and government officials to conduct assessments,” Andrew Yatilman, director of Yap State Office of Environment and Emergency Management, said by phone.

This image taken Tuesday March 31, 2015 shows Typhoon Maysak taken by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti from the International Space Station. The Pacific Daily News newspaper in Guam reports the storm was upgraded Tuesday to a super typhoon with winds of 150 mph and was moving west-northwest at 15 mph. Officials say super Typhoon Maysak is expected to significantly weaken before reaching the Philippines around Sunday. (AP Photo/NASA, Samantha Cristoforetti) .

Wilfred Robert, the chief of staff for the Chuuk State governor, and member of the Chuuk Emergency Coordinating Central Committee, said four deaths, a child and three adults, were reported.

Mr Robert said damage was still being assessed by boat in lagoon islands.

The typhoon, which was upgraded to a super typhoon on Tuesday afternoon when it passed Yap, moved into the open sea and is headed toward the Philippines.

TOPSHOTS In this picture taken on March 29, 2015, a man stands next to the upturned roots of a tree toppled during storms brought on by Super Typhoon Maysak on the island of Weno in the Micronesian state of Chuuk. Residents of the Micronesian State of Chuuk were struggling to clear the roads of huge pieces of debris and return to damaged homes on April 1 as Super Typhoon Maysak cut a destructive path across the central Pacific leaving at least five dead. AFP PHOTO / Hiroyuki MORI

In Manila, the weather bureau reported that Maysak’s sustained winds weakened on Wednesday from 215kph to 190kph and could still weaken as it approaches the country’s eastern coast.

The typhoon was still 1165 kilometres away from the eastern Philippines and may still be dangerously powerful when it hits land, likely on Saturday or Sunday if it doesn’t change course, Filipino forecasters said.

Nantaku to Mwan and Neauo Pictures.

Posted by Isolutions Micronesia on Tuesday, 31 March 2015

The approaching typhoon has threatened summer holiday plans in the largely Roman Catholic Philippines, where large number of Filipinos would travel to home provinces and resorts during the Lenten holidays starting on Thursday.

The 120,000-strong military went on full security alert on Wednesday in the northern Philippines, which is expected to be struck by Maysak, and ordered its forces to be ready to respond to contingencies.

Typhoon Maysak very destructive. Most damaging typhoon in years on Chuuk

Posted by Isolutions Micronesia on Monday, 30 March 2015