At least 10 killed as super typhoon hits the Philippines

Nearly 32 million affected by Goni's hurricane-force winds, heavy rain

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At least 10 people died and three others were missing after Typhoon Goni, the world's strongest typhoon this year, barreled through the south of the Philippines' main island of Luzon on Sunday.
A toppled electric post in Tigaon. Power was knocked out in areas battered by fierce winds, including some large cities in metropolitan Manila. Workers clearing a toppled tree in the typhoon-hit town of Tigaon in Camarines Sur province yesterday. Typ
Workers clearing a toppled tree in the typhoon-hit town of Tigaon in Camarines Sur province yesterday. Typhoon Goni made landfall at around 5am in Catanduanes province. As of noon yesterday, the weather bureau had downgraded its classification of Goni from a super typhoon to a "very strong typhoon". PHOTO: EPA-EFE
A villager in Ocampo town attempting to get a three-wheeled motorcycle back in an upright position in Ocampo town in Camarines Sur province.
A toppled electric post in Tigaon. Power was knocked out in areas battered by fierce winds, including some large cities in metropolitan Manila. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
A toppled electric post in Tigaon. Power was knocked out in areas battered by fierce winds, including some large cities in metropolitan Manila. Workers clearing a toppled tree in the typhoon-hit town of Tigaon in Camarines Sur province yesterday. Typ
A villager in Ocampo town attempting to get a three-wheeled motorcycle back in an upright position in Ocampo town in Camarines Sur province. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

A super typhoon slammed into the Philippines early yesterday, affecting nearly 32 million and killing at least 10 as it brought hurricane-force winds and dumped heavy rain across the main island of Luzon.

Typhoon Goni, locally known as Rolly, made landfall at around 5am in Catanduanes province in Bicol, some 500km south-east of Manila, with winds of up to 225kmh and short gusts of 310kmh.

"Areas along the path of the eye of the storm are experiencing a very dangerous situation… catastrophic violent winds and intense to torrential rainfall," weather forecaster Chris Perez said at a news briefing.

The typhoon tore off roofs, tipped over walls, uprooted trees, triggered landslides and set off storm surges that flooded coastal towns across the Bicol region, home to close to six million. People were spotted sitting on rooftops, as rain poured down and flood waters swept through their villages.

Power was knocked out in areas battered by fierce winds, including some large cities in metropolitan Manila, the densely populated capital region of more than 13 million.

Cavite province, just an hour south of Manila, was placed under a "state of calamity".

Equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, Goni is the strongest typhoon to hit anywhere in the world so far this year.

It is hammering the same regions still reeling from the fury of another typhoon, Molave, which last week left 22 people dead.

It has also evoked memories of Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013, which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing.

Mr Francis Bichara, governor of Albay, reported that at least four people in the province died. One man was killed when a tree tipped over and fell on him.

He added that several dikes burst, causing fast-moving floods that killed three, including a five-year-old boy. Mudslides were also reported on the slopes of Mayon volcano, sweeping away several houses.

The Office of Civil Defence later said 10 people had died in Albay.

Mr Ricardo Jalad, executive director of the national disaster agency, said the typhoon affected over 31.9 million people. More than 350,000 were evacuated, he added.

  • 225kmh

    Typhoon Goni brought winds of up to this speed yesterday.

Manila's airports and rail services were shut down.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said thousands of Covid-19 patients and health workers had been moved from their quarantine facilities to day-care centres, public schools, hotels and motels.

The Philippines has the second highest Covid-19 infections and deaths in South-east Asia, next only to Indonesia, with 383,113 cases and 7,238 deaths.

Forecasters said Goni's eye may hit or graze metropolitan Manila late yesterday to early today. The typhoon may considerably weaken after it hits the Sierra Madre mountain range, then cross Luzon towards the South China Sea.

As of noon yesterday, the weather bureau downgraded its classification of Goni from a super typhoon to a "very strong typhoon", with maximum winds down to 215kmh. Goni is the 18th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.

The country is the first major land mass facing the Pacific cyclone belt. It gets hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year.

The Singapore Red Cross said it would contribute S$50,000 to Philippine Red Cross to support its disaster relief efforts for Typhoon Goni.

That is on top of the food and non-food relief items such as blankets and mosquito nets worth US$75,000 (S$102,458) that the organisation had earlier contributed to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

​Mr Benjamin William, Secretary-General and CEO of Singapore Red Cross, said, "The successive typhoons and heavy rains have exacerbated the already-challenging situation caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks and we must work together to prevent this humanitarian crisis from escalating further."

The organisation is also helping the affected areas with short-term recovery projects such as the rehabilitation of latrines, and livelihood support for the victims.

The Singapore Red Cross has activated its "Restoring Family Links" (RFL) service to assist Singaporeans and others to locate their immediate family members who may have been affected by the disaster with whom they have difficulty in contacting. Please contact them at rfl@redcross.sg for assistance.

If you wish to donate towards humanitarian aid for displaced survivors, or recovery and resilience efforts, please make an online donation at www.redcross.give.asia/seafloods2020 Or via PayNow to UEN S86CC0370EGEN (indicate "Southeast Asia Floods 2020" in the remarks).

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 02, 2020, with the headline At least 10 killed as super typhoon hits the Philippines. Subscribe