Super Typhoon Goni smashed into the Philippines this morning (November 1) bringing strong wind, heavy rain and flash floods.

Footage shows a raging river swollen from the heavy rain as it gushes through the town of Guinobatan in Albay province on the northern Luzon island.

The muddy torrents burst over banks and swamped homes along the river bank as terrified locals watched and prayed for safety.

Camarines Sur province was also severely hit early morning as the storm moved westwards.

The storm, also known as Typhoon Rolly, has exploded into the strongest typhoon of the year. Its winds increased from 100 mph to 180 mph between Thursday and Friday night as it hurtled across the Western Pacific Sea.

It made landfall in the country on Sunday morning. Forecasters said it has the same force as a category 5 hurricane.

More than one million residents - around 1,000 of them with Covid-19 - have been evacuated from their homes into temporary evacuation centres. There were concerns that evacuations could further spread the virus.

Weather and disaster officials said Typhoon Goni is among the strongest typhoons to hit the Philippines since Haiyan, which killed more than 6,300 people in 2013.

Senator Christopher Go, an aide of President Rodrigo Duterte, said: "We are having a hard time with Covid-19, and then here comes another disaster.''

A second typhoon, Atsani, was trailing behind Goni and gaining strength with winds of around 35 mph.