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The typhoon is the strongest so far this year and hit land in the province of Catanduanes shortly before dawn. With a wind speed of 63 meters per second and gusts of up to 86 meters per second, the typhoon swept across the east coast before abruptly weakening and changing course.
As a result, the capital Manila was not directly affected by the typhoon, but at least nine people lost their lives in Albay province.
Catastrophic strong winds and heavy torrential rains have hit nine provinces south and southeast of Manila in the past twelve hours, according to the Philippine Meteorological Institute.
Rescue teams carry away a dead man who drowned in floods from Typhoon Goni in Guionbatan in Albay province on Sunday. Photo: AP
150 houses taken
In the small town of Guinobata, some 150 houses were flooded by volcanic mud. Many residents had fled to safety as the storm approached. Apparently a boy and his father had been left behind and both lost their lives, said the governor of Albay.
The governor does not say if other residents were affected by the landslide in Guinobata. Broken communication lines and power outages make contact with people difficult and some areas are isolated.
One person also lost his life in the province of Catanduanes and several are missing.
Floods
Goni is the 18th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, and the strongest to hit the country since Hayan swept through the eastern and central provinces in November 2013. More than 6,300 people lost their lives and 4 million were forced to flee. .
– Wind gusts are violent, says Francia Mae Borras (21) to the AFP news agency in the city of Legazpi in Albay.
Not far away, in the town of Camalig, bodies of water have blocked accessibility.
– Springflo has flooded our city, says the mayor of Camalig, Carlos Irwin Baldo.
Thousands of soldiers and police officers were available to help with the relief efforts.
Wind gusts have also wreaked havoc in Sorsogon province in the central Philippines. Photo: AP
Fear of the crown
Before the storm hit, 420,000 people sought refuge in shelters. At a school where residents had sought refuge in the capital Manila, several were concerned about the covid-19 outbreaks.
– Our fear has now doubled, says a 44-year-old street vendor who stuck his head there.
The Philippines has detected more than 383,000 cases of corona.
