World's strongest storm of 2015 lashes Pacific Ocean's northwest

A state of emergency has been declared in the Northern Marianas Islands as 354km/h wind gusts from Super Typhoon Soudelor leave a trail of destruction.

Nearly 400 people scrambled into emergency shelters on the US territory, approximately 2600km east of the Philippines and 210km northeast of Guam.

The powerful storm, the world’s strongest tropical cyclone this year, ripped roofs off houses and left residents without power, water and waste services.

The super typhoon's trail of destruction can be seen in the above video, at what appears to be a resort on Saipan Island - the largest and most-populated of the Northern Marianas Islands.

Ralph Torres, Acting Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, declared a state of emergency and urged residents to stay indoors.

Mr Torres also issued a price freeze, in order to prevent traders ramping up the price of essential goods and services.

"I've seen multiple primary power poles down; I've seen cars flipped over the road; I've seen lots of torn roofs," American Red Cross in Sapain executive director John Hirsch told Guam Pacific Daily News.

Damage caused by the storm was "extensive" across the island and its marinas, he said.

Significant damage was done to public infrastructure.

Soudelor is expected to intensify as it sweeps across open water over the next 24 hours but then to drop down to a category four or three by the time it reaches southern Japan, Taiwan and China later in the week. No deaths have been reported so far.