Super typhoon Manyi hits the Philippines’ most populous island

Super Typhoon Manyi hit the Philippines’ most populous island on Sunday, with the National Weather Service warning of flooding, landslides and large waves as the storm batters the entire archipelago.

Mani continued to pack sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour) after making its first landfall on the sparsely populated island of Catanduanes late Saturday.

More than 1.2 million people were evacuated from their homes ahead of Manyi as forecasters warned of “life-threatening” impacts from the powerful storm following a string of unusually severe weather.

Manyi uprooted trees, downed power lines and shattered vulnerable homes after hitting the city of Catanduanes in the typhoon-prone Bicol region.

No deaths were reported, but there was “extensive” damage to structures on Catanduanes, civil defense chief Ariel Nepomuceno said.

Man’yi hit the densely populated island of Luzon, the country’s economic engine, but remained a super typhoon, forecasters said, warning of “potentially dangerous” conditions in Aurora province.

The weather bureau said it was expected to “significantly weaken” as it passes over mountainous islands.

However, it announced that severe flooding and landslides are expected as Man’yi brought “heavy to torrential rain” to the provinces in its path.

Forecasters also warned that storm surges of up to more than 3 meters could flood vulnerable coastal areas, including Manila.

Panganiban municipality in northeastern Catanduanes was hit hard by Manyi.

Photos and drone video shared on Mayor Cesar Robles’ Facebook page showed downed power lines, damaged and destroyed buildings, and trees and corrugated boards strewn across roads.

“gust of wind”

“Pepito was very strong. I have never experienced a typhoon this strong,” Robles posted, using his local name Manyi, as clean-up efforts began and people returned home.

“It’s still a little unsafe. There’s still gusty winds and a lot of debris.”

Marissa Cueva Alejandro, a 36-year-old mother of three who grew up in Catanduanes and was sheltering with relatives during Manyi, said the typhoon was getting stronger.

Referring to the Japan Meteorological Bureau’s five-level wind warning system, he said, “Before, we only experienced (typhoon) signal 3 or 4, but now typhoons are as strong as signal 5.” spoke.

Man’i is the sixth storm to hit the archipelago nation in the last month. The last storm killed at least 163 people, left thousands homeless and destroyed crops and livestock.

Climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, producing heavy rain, flash flooding, and stronger wind gusts.

Approximately 20 major storms and typhoons strike the Southeast Asian country and its surrounding waters every year, killing many people, but it is rare for multiple such weather phenomena to occur within a small window. .

secluded resort

Forecasters have posted the highest and second-highest typhoon signals for a wide swath of the province, from the east coast of Luzon, where Man’yi made landfall for the second time, to the western side of the island, where Man’yi is expected to break out.

Approximately 2,000 people are in emergency evacuation shelters in the city of Dipaclao in Aurora state.

Some people stayed home to protect property and livestock or because they were skeptical of the warnings, said Jeffrey Paloka, communications officer for the Dipaculao Disaster Agency.

“Some of our compatriots are really hard-headed. They don’t believe in us until a typhoon comes,” Parocha told AFP.

Tourists were evacuated from coastal resorts ahead of the typhoon.

Irene Padeo, a reservations agent at the Lucilene Boutique Resort in Aurora’s Baler town, said “our properties are deserted” as Man’i approaches.

“We packed up all the outdoor items and brought them inside. We tied up everything else.”

On its current trajectory, Man-Yi is scheduled to cross north of Manila on Monday and sweep the South China Sea.

Manyi hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season. Most cyclones occur between July and October.

Earlier this month, four storms formed simultaneously in the Pacific Basin, the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP, the first time such storms had been observed in November since records began in 1951.

© 2024 AFP