Super Typhoon Man-yi has struck the Philippines, with the national weather agency warning of “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening” effects as massive waves battered the archipelago’s shores.
Over 650,000 residents evacuated ahead of the storm, the sixth major weather event to hit the country in the past month. Packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (121 mph) and gusts reaching 325 kilometers per hour, Man-yi made landfall in the sparsely populated Catanduanes province as a super typhoon, according to meteorologists.
The storm generated waves up to 14 meters (46 feet) high along Catanduanes’ coastline. Authorities also cautioned that Manila and other coastal areas faced storm surges exceeding three meters within the next 48 hours. Man-yi is expected to reach Luzon, the country’s most densely populated island and economic hub, on Sunday afternoon, before moving across the South China Sea on Monday.
The recent series of storms has claimed 163 lives, left thousands homeless, and devastated crops and livestock. Officials have urged citizens to evacuate preemptively to avoid endangering both residents and rescuers.
“Preemptive evacuation is essential. Waiting until the last moment not only risks your life but also the lives of rescuers,” said Marlo Iringan, Interior Undersecretary.
In Albay province, Legazpi City, grocer Myrna Perea and her family sought refuge in a school classroom with nine other families after being instructed to leave their home. Although conditions were cramped, Perea, 44, emphasized safety over comfort. “Even if our house is destroyed, the important thing is we survive as a family,” she said.
Scientists have linked the intensification of storms to climate change, which contributes to heavier rainfall, stronger winds, and more severe flooding. The Philippines typically experiences around 20 significant storms annually, but multiple events occurring in such a short span are unusual.
Evacuation centers are nearing capacity in Catanduanes, with widespread flooding and landslides predicted. In the provincial capital, Virac, more than 400 evacuees crowded into the government building, while others were redirected to a gymnasium, despite fears of its structural vulnerability during typhoons.
Northern Samar disaster officer Rei Josiah Echano highlighted the recurring toll of typhoons on local communities, saying, “Each storm drags us back to square one, perpetuating poverty in the region.”
