Super Typhoon Man-Yi, known locally as Pepito, has made landfall in the Philippines, becoming the sixth typhoon to hit this country in just one month. The storm made landfall at 21:40 local time (13:40 GMT) on the eastern Catanduanes coast, bringing maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h (121 mph), as reported by the state forecaster.
As authorities warned of potentially catastrophic impacts, including life-threatening storm surges and intense rainfall, over 400,000 individuals evacuated their homes in desperation. The previous storms had already claimed the lives of at least 160 people, emphasizing the severity of the current situation.
Super Typhoon Man-Yi is anticipated to impact a vast region, with forecasts predicting heavy rain—more than 300mm (11 inches) could fall across the northern areas on Saturday and Sunday alone. This persistent rainfall raises the risk of flooding and mudslides, particularly in landslide-prone areas. Furthermore, wind gusts may reach heights of 270 km/h, while coastal waves could rise to a staggering 15m (49ft).
While the capital city, Manila, is likely to avoid the most damaging winds as the storm tracks northward, it is expected to cross Luzon, the Philippines' largest and most populous island, before moving offshore by Monday. In anticipation of the storm’s arrival, local broadcaster ABS-CBN News reported numerous canceled flights.
Ariel Nepomuceno, head of civil defense, emphasized the dangers posed by the saturated ground conditions resulting from recent storms, urging residents in affected areas to strictly follow evacuation orders. Glenda Llamas shared her fear from a shelter in Albay province, expressing her anxiety about the storm's potential intensification.
The unusual frequency of severe tropical storms this November is alarming, as the region continues to experience the aftermath of prior typhoons, including Trami and Kong-rey, which caused significant devastation earlier this month. The United Nations' climate change body has noted that while the overall number of tropical cyclones may not increase, the intensity and rainfall rates of these storms are likely to rise, leading to more frequent occurrences of intense storms in affected areas.
