Manila
In anticipation of Typhoon Man-yi, hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines have been evacuated from coastal villages and flood-prone areas. The super typhoon, which made landfall in Catanduanes in the Bicol region of Luzon on Saturday night, is packing maximum winds of 195 km/h and gusts up to 240 km/h.
The state weather bureau issued a warning, describing the storm as a potentially catastrophic and life-threatening event, particularly for the northeastern Bicol region. Authorities have raised concerns about dangerous storm surges exceeding three meters, which could affect low-lying coastal areas in Metro Manila, central Luzon, and other regions.
Typhoon Man-yi is expected to move out into the South China Sea by Sunday night or Monday morning, but its impact is being closely monitored. The Philippines has already suffered extensive damage from five typhoons in the past month, which caused flooding, landslides, and more than 160 deaths. Nearly 30 people remain missing, and millions have been displaced, with crops and infrastructure severely damaged.
Man-yi, locally named Pepito, is the 16th tropical cyclone to strike the Philippines this year. The country is no stranger to frequent typhoons, with an average of 20 annually, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and the threat of deadly landslides. Government authorities have declared a state of calamity in several provinces in response to the ongoing devastation.
