Typhoon Man-yi Brings Destruction to the Philippines
Typhoon Man-yi Makes Landfall in the Philippines
Super Typhoon Man-yi pummelled the Philippines’ most populous island on Sunday, with the national weather service warning of flooding, landslides, and huge waves as the storm sweeps across the archipelago nation.
Typhoon Man-yi’s Strength
Man-yi was still packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometres (115 miles) per hour, with gusts reaching 305 kph, after making its first landfall late Saturday on the lightly populated Catanduanes island.
Mass Evacuations
More than 1.2 million people fled their homes ahead of Man-yi, including several thousand in the capital Manila, as the weather forecaster warned of a "life-threatening" impact from the powerful storm, which follows an unusual streak of violent weather.
Damage and Casualties
Man-yi uprooted trees, brought down power lines, and smashed flimsy houses to pieces after hitting Catanduanes in the typhoon-prone Bicol region. No deaths have been reported, but there was "extensive" damage to structures on Catanduanes, civil defence chief Ariel Nepomuceno said.
Impact on Luzon
Man-yi remained a super typhoon as it hit heavily populated Luzon — the country’s economic engine — forecasters said, warning of a "potentially dangerous" situation in Aurora province.
Rescue Efforts
"I saw roofing sheets flying off the houses around our building. Branches were being torn off trees," said Julius Fabianes, a rescuer with the Aurora disaster agency in Baler town.
Weather Forecast
The weather service forecast "significant weakening" as Man-yi traversed the mountainous island. But it said severe flooding and landslides were expected as Man-yi dumped "intense to torrential" rain over provinces in its path.
Storm Surge Warning
Forecasters also warned storm surges reaching more than three metres could swamp vulnerable coastal communities, including in Manila.
Photos and Videos
Photos and a drone video shared on the Facebook page of Mayor Cesar Robles showed fallen power lines, damaged and destroyed buildings, and trees and corrugated iron sheets strewn on the roads.
Local Reaction
"Pepito was so strong, I have never experienced a typhoon this strong," Robles said in a post, using the local name for Man-yi, as clean-up efforts got underway and people returned home.
Climate Change
Mother-of-three Marissa Cueva Alejandro, 36, who grew up in Catanduanes and sheltered with a relative during Man-yi, said typhoons were getting stronger.
Conclusion
Typhoon Man-yi has brought destruction to the Philippines, with widespread flooding, landslides, and damage to infrastructure. The storm has also highlighted the impact of climate change on the country, with more frequent and intense typhoons expected in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current status of Typhoon Man-yi?
A: Typhoon Man-yi is still a super typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 305 kph.
Q: How many people have been affected by the storm?
A: More than 1.2 million people have fled their homes ahead of Man-yi, including several thousand in the capital Manila.
Q: What is the damage to infrastructure?
A: There has been "extensive" damage to structures on Catanduanes, with fallen power lines, damaged and destroyed buildings, and trees and corrugated iron sheets strewn on the roads.
Q: What is the forecast for the storm?
A: The weather service forecast "significant weakening" as Man-yi traverses the mountainous island, but severe flooding and landslides are expected as the storm dumps "intense to torrential" rain over provinces in its path.