A powerful typhoon hit the Philippines on Saturday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to a country already grappling with the aftermath of recent storms. More than 850,000 people were evacuated as a precaution.
Typhoon ManyiThe plane, known locally as the Pepito, struck the island of Catanduanes near Luzon late Saturday night. The power of this storm is equivalent to Category 5 hurricane It made landfall but later weakened to Category 4.
The storm caused severe damage. Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said “water levels could reach as high as 23 feet and he has asked local authorities to evacuate residents in areas below 33 feet above sea level.” The storm caused power outages in Catanduanes and killed more than 2,600 people. Passengers were stranded at ports around the Bicol region.
Forecasters warned of possible landslides and flooding, especially in Catanduanes, where more than seven inches of rain was expected. Storm surges could reach 10 feet, posing a threat to coastal areas.
Manyi is the latest in a series of typhoons to hit the Philippines in recent weeks, straining the country’s disaster relief resources. In the past month alone, typhoons Usagi, Hogil, Trami, Ginkgo and Kangrei have caused widespread flooding and landslides, killing more than 160 people.
