Worst storm of 2014

Super Typhoon Vongfong: The storm of 2014
FEARSOME SIGHT: An enhanced image of Typhoon Vongfong. - NOAA
As Japan recovers from Typhoon Phanfone, in comes Super Typhoon Vongfong - the most intense storm on earth this year.
Vongfong brought flooding, rain and damaging winds to the northern Mariana Islands on Sunday, local time.
Vongfong has rapidly gained strength since then and became a super typhoon on Tuesday with winds of 250kmh.
Forecasts suggest Vongfong could become the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane with winds over 260kmh.
This enhanced animated image shows Vongfong tracking across the Pacific Ocean between about midnight and 8am NZT.
Models suggest it could rival the intensity of 2013's deadly Typhoon Haiyan over the next 24 hours, the Washington Post's weather blog reported.
Vongfong is now the sixth super typhoon of 2014, with wind speeds above 240kmh.
But it was not expected to make landfall while at this intensity.
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Over the next 24 to 48 hours, Vongfong is forecast to make a sharp turn north toward Japan. By Saturday morning, the typhoon is forecast to weaken to the equivalent of a category 3, and then a category 2 with wind speeds of 170kmh, as it approaches the southern islands of the Kagoshima Prefecture of Japan.
Modelling suggests it will then continue to turn northeast and potentially making landfall in the southern Japan mainland, bringing torrential rain.
This animated image shows Vongfong tracking across the Pacific Ocean between about midnight and 8am NZT.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Phanfone has risen to six in Japan, while five other people including two US serviceman remain missing.
The typhoon caused about 600 flights to be cancelled on Monday (local time) with more than 100 bullet train services suspended.
About 62 people have been injured across Japan in storm-related accidents.