Typhoon Vongfong forces thousands from homes in coronavirus-hit Philippines

Residents stand amongst debris and next to a huge crucifix blown from the church after it was destroyed at the height of Typhoon Vongfong in Arteche town, Eastern Samar province. AFP

Residents try to salvage belongings in San Policarpio town, Eastern Samar province. AFP

Filipino villagers reinforce their homes in anticipation of Typhoon Vongfong at a coastal village in Cavite, Philippines. EPA

Residents try to salvage belongings in San Policarpio town, Eastern Samar province. AFP

A resident clears a street of debris in Arteche. AFP

A man wearing a protective mask and raincoat rides his bicycle during rain caused by Typhoon Vongfong in Manila, Philippines. AP

Residents ride a boat along a flooded village as Typhoon Vongfong passes by Sorsogon province, Philippines. AP

Workers clear a road of trees and branches in Sorsogon province, eastern Philippines. AP

Residents wade from floodwaters in a flooded village in Sorsogon province. AP

A general view of trees being blown by heavy winds during Typhoon Vongfong in San Francisco, Quezon province, Philippines. Reuters

Tens of thousands of people were forced into cramped shelters by a powerful typhoon pounding the Philippines on Friday, making social distancing nearly impossible as the nation battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Typhoon Vongfong flattened coastal homes when it roared ashore on central Samar island on Thursday, but then weakened into a severe tropical storm on its path north towards Manila.

The storm hit as tens of millions of Filipinos are hunkered down at home against the coronavirus, but at least 141,700 had to flee in central Bicol province because of the powerful storm, disaster officials said.

"We have to wear masks and apply distancing at all times," local police official Carlito Abriz said. "It's difficult to enforce because they [the evacuees] are stressed. But we are doing our best."

Bicol saw less damage than hard-hit Samar, so some of those in shelters started to return home after the storm passed on Friday, disaster officials reported.

Authorities have said they will run shelters at half of capacity, provide masks to people who don't have them and try to keep families grouped together.

However, many spaces normally used as storm shelters have been converted into quarantine sites for people suspected of being infected with coronavirus.

"The challenge really lies in the physical distancing," said disaster official Junie Castillo, who added they were housing people in classrooms emptied by the pandemic.

Fortunately the central region where the storm struck first is not one of the hotspots of the Philippines' outbreak, which has seen 11,876 reported infections and 790 dead.

At least one person died after being hit by glass shards in a school building he was trying to open to take shelter in, Governor Ben Evardone of Samar province said.