The (also known as ‘Man-yi’) hit the most populated island of the Philippines, Luzon, this Sunday, causing floods, landslides and huge waves, the national meteorological service has warned, while The archipelago is hit by its sixth major storm in a month. ‘Man-yi’ has maintained its intensity as it reaches Luzon, the country’s densely populated economic engine, forecasters have said, warning of a “potentially dangerous” situation in the province of Aurora.
After ‘Man-yi’ made landfall on Sunday afternoon in the municipality of Dipaculao, in the province of Aurora, on the island of Luzon, winds averaging 185 km/h, with gusts reaching 305 km/hmeteorologist Junie Ruiz told France Press. “I saw the roofs of nearby houses flying and breaking off tree branches.”said Julius Fabianes, a lifeguard in the city of Baler.
About 2,000 people were in emergency evacuation shelters in Dipaculao, Aurora province. Other residents stayed home to protect their property and livestock.or because they were skeptical of the warnings, explained the spokesman for the Dipaculao disaster management agency, Geofry Parrocha.
Significant weakening
The weather service predicts “significant weakening” as ‘Man-yi’ passes the mountainous island. However, he said that they are expected severe flooding and landslides as ‘Man-yi’ dumps “heavy to torrential” rains in its path.
Most of the eastern coast of Luzon Island, where Man-yi made its second landfall, was put on alert levels 4 and 5 -the maximum- depending on the areato the western part of the island. Meteorologists also warned that Storm surges of more than three meters could overwhelm coastlines, including Manila. More than 1.2 million people have fled their homes as the super typhoon, described as “potentially catastrophic and deadly,” approaches.
On Saturday afternoon, the super typhoon hit the eastern province of Catanduanes. “There were no casualties, perhaps because people followed evacuation orders”said Roberto Monterola, head of relief operations in Catanduanes province, as the island is being cleaned up.
Damage to homes
Photos shared on Panganiban Mayor Cesar Robles’ Facebook page showed downed power lines, damaged houses, trees and roofs torn off and scattered on the roads. “It’s still a little dangerous, there are still gusts of wind and a lot of debris,” said Robles, who said he had never seen a typhoon “so powerful.”
“Before we only received the level three or four signal, but now the typhoons reach the level five signal”testified Marissa Cueva Alejandro, 36, referring to the meteorological service’s wind alert system, whose level five is the maximum. “Some of our compatriots are stubborn. They don’t believe us until the typhoon hits,” lamented Parrocha. Tourists have abandoned the spas. “Our rooms are deserted”explained Irene Padeo, head of reservations at a hotel in Baler, in the same province of Aurora.
Heading to Manila
According to its planned trajectory, ‘Man-yi’ is expected to cross north of Manila and cross the South China Sea on Monday. ‘Man-yi’ arrives in the Philippines at the end of the typhoon season, with most cyclones developing between July and October.
Man-yi is the sixth storm to hit the Philippines in less than a month. Previous cyclones killed at least 163 people, left thousands homelessdestroyed crops and killed livestock.
Earlier this month, four storms formed simultaneously in the Pacific basin. The Japanese meteorological agency told France Presse on Saturday that this is the first time such a phenomenon has been observed in November since records began in 1951.
Every year, around 20 major storms and deadly typhoons hit the Philippines or its surrounding waters, but it is rare for several such events to occur in such a short period of time. Scientists say climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, causing heavier rain, flash flooding and more violent gusts.
