A super-typhoon has blown into the eastern Philippines with disastrous force, killing at least 10 people and triggering mudflows that engulfed about 150 houses.
The strongest storm of the year has ripped off roofs, toppled trees and triggered flash floods.
The typhoon hit the eastern island province of Catanduanes with sustained winds of 225 kilometres per hour and gusts of 280 kilometres per hour, and threatened other provinces still recovering from a deadly typhoon that hit a week ago.
Storm surges hit some coastal towns, while rivers overflowed and dikes were destroyed, submerging several villages in Bicol Region.
In Guinobatan municipality, Representative Zaldy Co of the Ako Bicol party list said more than 300 houses were buried under volcanic debris.
"Several people believed to be buried alive," the party list said in a statement accompanying photos of the destruction.
Some 347,000 people were evacuated, civil defence chief Ricardo Jalad said.Ports and airports were shut, and schools, gyms and government-run evacuation centres were being used for covid-secure emergency shelters.
Evacuee Jaqueline Almocera says she is concerned about the temporary living conditions.
“We are scared, our fears are doubled. The people here are mixed, unlike when you're at home, safe and we don't go out. Here you interact with other evacuees and we still have COVID”
Official say Typhoon Goni (Rolly) is now weakening and moving away from the country.
But another tropical storm is already brewing off the coast and is expected to intensify as it nears the country in the coming days.
