Manila:
A devastating super typhoon named Man-yi wreaked havoc in the Philippines over the weekend, with the national weather forecaster issuing a grave warning of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening” impact as massive waves pounded the country’s coastline.
Over 650,000 people evacuated their homes in anticipation of the storm, which marked the sixth major typhoon to hit the disaster-prone nation in the past month.
With maximum wind speeds of 195 kilometers per hour, Man-yi made landfall on the sparsely populated Catanduanes island province as a super typhoon. The weather service reported gusts reaching up to 325 kilometers per hour.
Hours before the storm hit, the forecaster warned of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation” in the northeastern Bicol region as Super Typhoon ‘Pepito’ intensified. The southern part of the main island of Luzon was also at risk.
Enormous waves up to 14 meters high battered the shores of Catanduanes, while Manila and other vulnerable coastal areas faced the danger of storm surges exceeding three meters over the next 48 hours.
The weather forecaster emphasized the extreme threat to life and property posed by the powerful winds in Catanduanes and northeastern Camarines Sur province, both located in the typhoon-prone Bicol region.
As a precautionary measure, power was cut off in Catanduanes before the storm hit, with shelters and the command center relying on generators for electricity.
Following the landfall of Man-yi, Roberto Monterola, the provincial disaster operations chief in Catanduanes, reported hearing sounds of falling objects and breaking structures at evacuation centers, attributing them to the strong winds.
At least 163 people lost their lives in the five previous storms that hit the Philippines in recent weeks, leaving many homeless and causing extensive damage to crops and livestock.
The intensification of storms due to climate change has led to heavier rainfall, flash floods, and stronger gusts, posing a significant threat to the region.
The Philippines experiences around 20 major storms and typhoons annually, resulting in numerous casualties. However, the occurrence of multiple severe weather events within a short period is relatively rare.
Evacuations were carried out in preparation for Man-yi potentially hitting Luzon, the country’s most populous island, as a super typhoon or typhoon on Sunday afternoon, before moving north of Manila and heading towards the South China Sea on Monday.
The government urged residents to heed evacuation warnings and prioritize their safety. Interior Undersecretary Marlo Iringan stressed the importance of proactive evacuation to prevent endangering lives during emergencies.
In Albay province, families like that of Myrna Perea, a grocer in Legazpi City, sought refuge in evacuation centers after being instructed to leave their homes. Despite facing hot and cramped conditions, Perea emphasized the importance of safety over material possessions.
In Northern Samar province, disaster officer Rei Josiah Echano highlighted the detrimental impact of typhoons on the region, attributing poverty to the recurring damage caused by such storms.
As the region prepared for the onslaught of Man-yi, the mayor of Naga city in Camarines Sur province imposed a curfew to ensure residents remained indoors. All vessels, including fishing boats and oil tankers, were instructed to stay in port or return to shore.
The volcanology agency also warned of potential lahars, volcanic sediment flows, triggered by heavy rainfall from Man-yi, particularly from three volcanoes including Taal, south of Manila.
Man-yi struck the Philippines towards the end of the typhoon season, which typically spans from July to October.
Earlier this month, the Pacific basin witnessed a rare occurrence of four simultaneous storms, as confirmed by the Japan Meteorological Agency, marking the first time such an event was observed in November since 1951.
(This article has been generated and adapted for WordPress, maintaining the original structure and content. Source: Syndicated Feed)
