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Philippines cleans up as Super Typhoon Man-yi leaves deadly trail.
At least eight people are reportedly killed as sixth major storm hits the country in less than a month.
Storm-weary Filipinos have started clearing fallen trees and repairing damaged houses after Super Typhoon Man-yi, the sixth major storm to hit the Philippines in less than a month, battered the country and left at least eight people dead.
Man-yi significantly weakened into a severe tropical storm before making its way out about noon (04:00 GMT) on Monday
According to the disaster management agency in the northern province of Nueva Ecija, rain brought about by Man-yi triggered a landslide, killing seven people and injuring three others.
In the eastern province of Camarines Norte, an elderly man was killed after his motorbike was caught in a power line during the storm.
The national weather service PAGASA had warned of a “potentially catastrophic” consequence from Man-yi. But the early evacuation and less-than-expected volume of rain softened its effect.
On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos said Man-yi’s aftermath “wasn’t as bad as we feared”.
Packing maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 185 km/h (115 mph) at its peak on Saturday, Man-yi slammed into the island province of Catanduanes before making a second landfall in the northern province of Aurora on Sunday afternoon.
Along its path, Man-yi uprooted trees, brought down power lines, crushed wooden houses, and triggered tidal surge, landslides and flooding. In the northern province of Isabela, flooding submerged part of the city of Ilagan.
Power outages across Catanduanes could last for months, provincial information officer Camille Gianan told the AFP news agency. “Most houses with light materials were flattened while some houses made of concrete had their roofs, doors and windows destroyed.”
The region encompassing Camarines Norte and Catanduanes is still recovering from huge flooding that killed dozens of people in October. In the coastal town of Baler in Aurora, cleanup operations were under way to remove felled trees and debris blocking roads and waterways.
“Most of the houses here are made of light materials so even now, before the inspection, we are expecting heavy damage on many houses in town,” disaster officer Neil Rojo said.
On average, the Philippines gets 20 storms and typhoons every year. But since the last week of October, six have hit the country, including four this month, which the Japan Meteorological Agency said was the first time such an occurrence had been observed in November since its records began in 1951. The storms have killed at least 163 people and wiped out crops and livestock.
yphoon Man-yi made landfall this weekend, resulting in a deadly landslide that claimed at least seven lives, destroyed numerous houses, and displaced large numbers of people in the northern Philippines.
The storm, which has also left three villagers missing, compounded the ongoing crisis caused by multiple back-to-back storms in the region that caused widespread devastation and left affected communities in urgent need of assistance.
Disaster-response officials are investigating whether the deaths of two villagers in eastern Camarines Norte province were directly caused by Typhoon Man-yi. Additionally, a search is underway for a couple and their child whose home was swept away by rampaging rivers in northern Nueva Ecija province.
What Route Is Typhoon Man Yi Taking?
Typhoon Man-yi was among the most powerful of a series of major storms to strike the northern Philippines in less than a month. With sustained winds reaching 125 miles per hour, the storm made landfall in the eastern island province of Catanduanes on Saturday night, causing widespread destruction and compounding the region’s ongoing recovery challenges.
More than a million people were affected by Typhoon Man-yi and two preceding storms including Typhoon Usagi, according to the Official of Civil Defense. Among those affected, nearly 700,000 residents were forced to leave their homes, seeking refuge in emergency shelters or staying with relatives while the storms caused widespread destruction and displacement.
Nearly 8,000 houses were reported damaged or destroyed, and more than 100 cities and towns experienced power outages due to toppled electric posts, according to the Civil Defense.
In the worst-hit province of Camarines, officials called for urgent additional assistance after intense winds and rain severely damaged more houses and disrupted essential services. The entire province lost electricity and water supplies, while many areas experienced a loss of cellphone connectivity.
One Calamity After Another
Welfare officials delivered food aid, drinking water, and other relief supplies to affected areas, but much more support will be required in the coming months, according to provincial information officer Camille Gianan. She noted that many villagers would need construction materials to rebuild their homes following the extensive damage caused by the typhoon.
“They have not recovered from the previous storms when the super typhoon hit,” Gianan said. “It’s been one calamity after another.”
At least 26 domestic airports and two international airports were temporarily closed due to Typhoon Man-yi’s affect, along with the suspension of interisland ferry and cargo services because of rough seas. These disruptions left thousands of passengers and commuters stranded. However, most transport services have since resumed, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Coast Guard.
What’s the Difference Between a Typhoon and a Hurricane?
Typhoons are categorized based on their intensity, starting as tropical storms and moving upward to typhoons or super typhoons based on wind speed. This classification system helps meteorologists assess and communicate the potential affect of these storms.
Since Man-yi hit the Philippines, the country has faced an unprecedented series of six consecutive storms and typhoons over a three-week period, resulting in over 160 fatalities and affecting approximately nine million individuals. The extensive damage to communities, infrastructure, and farmlands has significantly disrupted rice production, a staple food in the country. Consequently, the government is considering increasing rice imports to address potential shortages and stabilize food supply.
In an emergency meeting while Man-yi approached, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked his Cabinet and provincial officials to brace for “the worst-case scenario.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press