Residents hit by Typhoon Bualoi sought refuge in a church in the Philippines as the storm hit the country, bringing heavy rain and flooding.

Footage shows distressed locals climbing onto the roof as floodwaters entered the premises in Calubian, Leyte, on September 26, around 3 am.

The filmer said: 'Responding authorities carried out immediate rescue operations, ensuring the safe evacuation of those affected.'

Authorities confirmed that more than 400,000 residents were displaced across the country as the storm battered communities, leaving at least 20 people dead.

Locally known as Opong, the storm made six landfalls. It first hit Eastern Samar late Thursday evening as a typhoon.

Bualoi then made additional landfalls as a severe tropical storm - once in Masbate province, twice in Romblon, and again in Oriental Mindoro on Friday. It was packing sustained winds of 110 kph, with gusts of up to 150 kph, and moving west-northwest at 30 kph.

Authorities said Masbate, in the typhoon-prone region, suffered most from Bualoi's onslaught. The province was placed under a state of calamity on Saturday.

The southwest monsoon also affected several provinces along the country's western side.

Typhoon Bualoi exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday. By early Sunday morning, the storm was around 200 kilometres east of central Vietnam, moving northwest.

It was expected to bring winds reaching 133 kph, storm surges of more than 3.2ft and heavy rains that could cause flash floods and landslides.