Super Typhoon Man-yi batters Philippines’ most populous island

MANILA – Super Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the Philippines’ most populous island on Nov 17, with the national weather service warning of flooding, landslides and huge waves as the storm sweeps across the archipelago nation.

Man-yi was still packing maximum sustained winds of 185kmh and gusts of up to 230kmh after making landfall on lightly populated Catanduanes island late on Nov 16.

More than 1.2 million people fled their homes ahead of Man-yi as the national weather service warned of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening” impact from the storm.

No deaths have been reported, but there was “extensive” damage to structures on Catanduanes, civil defence chief Ariel Nepomuceno said.

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.

“Significant weakening” was expected as it traversed the mountainous island, the weather service said. But it added that severe flooding and landslides were expected as Man-yi dumped “intense to torrential” rain over provinces in its path.

Panganiban municipality in the north-east of Catanduanes took a direct hit from Man-yi.

Photos shared on the Facebook page of Mayor Cesar Robles show toppled power lines, damaged houses, and trees and corrugated iron sheets strewn on the roads.

“Pepito was so strong, I have never experienced a typhoon this strong,” he said in a post, using the local name for Man-yi.

“It is still a bit unsafe, there are still bursts of wind and there are many debris.”

Ms Marissa Cueva Alejandro, 36, who grew up in Catanduanes, said typhoons are getting stronger.

“Before, we would experience only (typhoon) signal number three to four, but now typhoons are getting as strong as signal number five,” she noted, referring to the weather service’s five-tiered wind warning system.

Man-yi is the sixth storm in the past month to batter the archipelago nation. At least 163 people died in the previous storms that also left thousands homeless and wiped out crops and livestock.

Climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, leading to heavier rains, flash floods and stronger gusts.

About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the South-east 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.

Mr Robert Tancino, a government ambulance driver in Tiwi municipality in Albay province, which faces Catanduanes, said his area appeared to be largely unscathed.

“Not too many trees fell and the roads are otherwise clear. I did not see any damage among the houses here,” he told AFP.

The weather forecaster has issued its second-highest typhoon signal for several provinces along Luzon island’s east coast where Man-yi is expected to make its second landfall.

Around 2,000 people were in emergency evacuation shelters in Dipaculao municipality in Aurora province.

Others have stayed home to protect their property and livestock, or because they were sceptical of the warnings, said Mr Geofry Parrocha, communications officer of Dipaculao disaster agency.

“Some of our countrymen are really hard-headed. They do not believe us until the typhoon arrives,” he added.

Tourists emptied out of coastal resorts ahead of the typhoon.

“Our facilities are deserted,” said Ms Irene Padeo, reservation officer of the L’Sirene Boutique Resort in Baler town in Aurora, shortly before Man-yi was due to make landfall in neighbouring San Luis.

“Our outdoor items have all been packed and taken indoors. We tied down all the rest.”

On its current trajectory, Man-yi will cross north of Manila and sweep over the South China Sea on Nov 18.

Man-yi hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season – most cyclones develop between July and October.

Earlier in November, four storms were clustered simultaneously in the Pacific basin. The Japan Meteorological Agency said this was the first time such an occurrence had been observed in November since its records began in 1951. AFP