Staff Reporter: Philippine authorities evacuated nearly a million people to safer ground as a Super Typhoon barreled into the southern part of the Philippines' main island of Luzon on Sunday bringing violent winds and intense rains with two landfalls so far, the weather bureau reported.

Moving from the Pacific Ocean, Goni will bring intense rains over the capital Manila and 21 adjacent provinces early on Sunday, and threats of floods and landslides. So far the strongest storm of 2020, Typhoon Goni is gaining further strength with 225kmh sustained winds and gusts of up to 310kmh.

Storm surge alerts have been issued by PAGASA, while authorities have also reminded those in evacuation centres to observe social distancing as the coronavirus spread is also a concern. "Evacuating people is more difficult at this time because of COVID-19," Bicol regional civil defence spokesman Alexis Naz told AFP.

Most of the international and domestic flights have been cancelled after the civil aviation authority ordered a one-day closure of Manila's main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

spent Saturday marshalling rescue vehicles, emergency response teams and relief goods ahead of the storm's arrival. The media reported that the country is going to face “double whammy” from the cyclone and corona virus. People are encouraged wearing face masks and maintaining social distance in the evaluation centers.

Goni is locally known as Rolly in the Philippines. Goni is expected to cross the South China Sea while continuing to weaken as it approaches southern Vietnam.