Typhoon Vongfong smashed homes, schools and virus quarantine sites when it hit central Samar island on Thursday, but then weakened into a severe tropical storm on its path north to the capital Manila. The storm struck as tens of millions of Filipinos are hunkered down at home to protect themselves against Covid-19, but more than 140,000 had to flee in central Bicol region because of the powerful storm, disaster officials said. Vongfong packed gusts up to 190km an hour and drenching rains when it roared into the Philippines. Bicol saw less damage than hard-hit Samar, so some of those in shelters had begun to return home after the storm passed on Friday, disaster officials reported. However, many spaces normally used as storm shelters have been converted into quarantine sites for people suspected of being infected with coronavirus.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 15, 2020 16:18 UTC