Typhoon Man-yi Brings Destruction to the Philippines
MANILA: Filipinos cleared fallen trees and repaired damaged houses on Monday after the sixth major storm to batter the Philippines in a month smashed flimsy buildings, knocked out power, and claimed at least one life.
Typhoon’s Impact
The national weather service had warned of a "potentially catastrophic" impact from Man-yi, which was a super typhoon when it hit over the weekend, but President Ferdinand Marcos said Monday it "wasn’t as bad as we feared." Packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 185 km/h, Man-yi slammed into Catanduanes island late Saturday, and the main island of Luzon on Sunday afternoon. It uprooted trees, brought down power lines, crushed wooden houses, and triggered landslides, but did not cause serious flooding.
Casualties and Damage
One person was killed in Camarines Norte province, which Marcos said was "one casualty too many." Police said the victim, a 79-year-old man, died after his motorbike was caught in a power line. There have been no other reports so far of deaths or injuries. Power outages across the island province of Catanduanes could last for months after Man-yi toppled electricity poles, provincial information officer Camille Gianan told AFP.
Clean-up Efforts
In the coastal town of Baler in Aurora province, clean-up operations were underway to remove felled trees and debris blocking roads and waterways. "Most of the houses here are made of light materials so even now, before the inspection, we are expecting heavy damage on many houses in town," disaster officer Neil Rojo told AFP. "We’ve also received reports of roofs that went flying with the wind last night… it was the fierce wind that got us scared, not exactly the heavy rains."
Storm Weakens
Man-yi weakened significantly as it traversed the mountains of Luzon and was downgraded to a severe tropical storm as it swept over the South China Sea towards Vietnam on Monday. More than a million people in the Philippines fled their homes ahead of the storm, which followed an unusual streak of violent weather.
Climate Change
Climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, leading to heavier rains, flash floods, and stronger gusts. At least 163 people in the Philippines died in the past month’s storms, which left thousands homeless and wiped out crops and livestock. About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Southeast Asian nation or its surrounding waters each year, killing scores of people, but it is rare for multiple such weather events to take place in a small window. Man-yi also hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season – most cyclones develop between July and October. This month, four storms were clustered simultaneously in the Pacific basin, which the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP was the first time such an occurrence had been observed in November since its records began in 1951.
Conclusion
Typhoon Man-yi has brought destruction to the Philippines, leaving a trail of damage and displacement in its wake. While the storm’s impact was not as severe as feared, the country’s residents are still reeling from the aftermath. The government is working to provide relief and support to those affected, and the international community is offering aid and assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many people were killed in the typhoon?
A: At least one person was killed in Camarines Norte province.
Q: How many people were displaced by the typhoon?
A: More than a million people fled their homes ahead of the storm.
Q: How long will power outages last in Catanduanes province?
A: Power outages could last for months after Man-yi toppled electricity poles.
Q: What is the cause of the intense storms in the Philippines?
A: Climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, leading to heavier rains, flash floods, and stronger gusts.