Typhoon Man-yi is expected to sweep across the country. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, while ships have been urged to remain in port or return to shore. Philippine authorities are on high alert.
Philippines authorities have begun taking precautions due to Typhoon Man-yi, which is expected to make landfall near the island of Catanduanes in the Bicol Region of the Philippines.
Interior Ministry official Marlo Iringan said that the strong winds and rainfall brought by Typhoon Man-yi could cause floods and landslides, and announced that 255,000 people were evacuated from their homes as a precaution.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced that Typhoon Man-yi was off the coast of Catarman City in Northern Samar as of 10:00 this morning and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 25 kilometers per hour.
Authorities announced that Typhoon Man-yi, which caused winds reaching speeds of 185 kilometers per hour, was classified as a “Super Typhoon” as of this morning. It was stated that Typhoon Man-yi with wind speeds of 185 kilometers per hour and above was classified as a “Super Typhoon.”
Typhoon Man-yi will continue to intensify as it nears the Philippines and could “reach super typhoon category” in the coming hours, the forecaster said.
In Northern Samar province, disaster officer Rei Josiah Echano lamented that damage caused by typhoons was the root cause of poverty in the region.
All vessels – from fishing boats to oil tankers – have been ordered to stay in port or return to shore. The volcanology agency also warned heavy rain dumped by Typhoon Man-yi could trigger flows of volcanic sediment, or lahars, from three volcanos, including Taal, south of Manila.
According to Reuters, Ariel Nepomuceno, head of the Office of Civil Defense, urged residents in the typhoon’s projected path to comply with evacuation orders as Typhoon Man-yi threatened to unleash heavy rains and powerful winds that could trigger floods and storm surges.
