Typhoon Man-yi hit the northern Philippines on Sunday, causing widespread destruction and forcing hundreds of thousands to seek shelter. It was the sixth major storm to impact the country within a month.
Man-yi made landfall in Catanduanes, an eastern island province, with sustained winds of 125 mph and gusts reaching up to 149 mph. The Philippines’ weather agency warned of a potentially catastrophic situation, and while no casualties were reported immediately, the storm’s impact was severe, particularly in the northern regions.
The typhoon brought extremely strong winds and massive tidal surges. In Catanduanes, waves reached more than 23 feet, flooding seaside homes. Local authorities struggled to assess the full extent of the damage, as power outages affected the entire province, and many areas were left without electricity after trees and utility poles were downed.
Disaster-response teams were working to determine the number of damaged homes, with many already weakened by previous storms in the area.
Evacuations were widespread as more than 750,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters, including churches and shopping malls. Local officials warned residents in vulnerable areas of the dangers of staying behind and threatened arrest for non-compliance.
Typhoon Man-yi Devastates Northern Philippines, Straining Disaster Response and Displacing Hundreds of Thousands
Catanduanes, with a population of 80,000, saw nearly half of its residents seeking shelter. Survivors of past storms were still reeling from previous damages and were now facing the wrath of Man-yi, with many asking for essential supplies like tin roofs and food.
The Philippines has been hit by a series of back-to-back storms in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of over 160 people and impacting approximately 9 million individuals. The storms caused extensive damage to residential areas, infrastructure, and farmland.
These repeated disasters have worsened food insecurity, particularly for rice, a staple food, leading to concerns about potential imports to meet demand. The government, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., prepared for a worst-case scenario as Man-yi made its way across the archipelago.
In addition to the damage caused by the typhoon, transportation services were severely affected. Over 26 domestic airports and two international airports were temporarily shut down, and ferry services were suspended due to rough seas, stranding thousands of passengers.
The Philippines, a country regularly affected by natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, was also supported by international aid from allies like the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, who sent cargo aircraft and supplies to assist the overwhelmed disaster-response efforts.
