The Philippines is bracing for another big storm as Super Typhoon Manyi begins to cross the archipelago. Maximum sustained wind speeds are around 195 km/h (121 mph), with higher gusts.
The country’s meteorological agency PAGASA announced on Saturday that it made landfall in Panganiban, eastern Catanduanes province, at around 9:40 pm local time (9:40 pm Japan time).
It is expected to move westward through some of the country’s most populated areas within the next 24 hours, with its center passing north of the capital Manila.
Storm Manyi, or locally known as Pepito, is the sixth major storm to hit the Philippines in the last month.
This month, four storms formed simultaneously in the Western Pacific. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, this is the first time this has happened in November since records began in 1951, outside of the peak cyclone season from July to October.
rare weather occurrences
Disaster officials said in a Saturday radio interview that more than 500,000 people had left their homes before Man-Yi’s arrival, and the state’s weather forecaster described “severe impacts” and “life-threatening” winds. I warned you. High tide.
The country’s Volcanoes Agency also warned that heavy rains could cause the outflow of volcanic deposits, or lahars, from three volcanoes, including Taal, south of the capital Manila.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday directed authorities to stock up on food and other supplies in advance and urged residents to evacuate as heavy rains are expected in eastern provinces and Metro Manila over the weekend. .
“We have to do a little bit more here. We are already in a dire situation with the saturation, the damage to infrastructure, housing and other infrastructure,” Marcos said at a briefing.
Five storms that have hit the Philippines in recent weeks have already killed at least 163 people and left thousands homeless, damaging crops and livestock.
Clusters of storms like this are rare events, even in a region that typically sees about 20 typhoons a year, and scientists believe this is due to the effects of human-induced climate change that is heating ocean waters to dangerous levels. states that it is highly likely.
tj, msh/dj (Reuters, AFP)
