Super Typhoon Man-Yi, locally known as Pepito, has barreled into the Philippines, making it the sixth typhoon to hit this nation in the span of a month. It made contact at 21:40 local time (13:40 GMT) with winds reaching 195 km/h (121 mph) near eastern Catanduanes island, prompting urgent warnings from government forecasters about potentially catastrophic conditions, including a "life-threatening storm surge," heavy rainfall, and fierce winds. In the wake of previous storms that claimed at least 160 lives, authorities have evacuated over 400,000 individuals as a precaution against the impending disaster.
Meteorologists predict that Man-Yi will affect large regions of the Philippines. Heavy rains are anticipated across northern territories, with some areas expecting to receive over 300mm (11 inches) of rainfall during the weekend. In addition, gusts could escalate up to 270 km/h (approximately 168 mph), and waves may reach dangerous heights of 15 m (49 ft) along eastern coastlines. While the capital, Manila, may not experience the most severe winds, the storm is expected to track northward, eventually crossing Luzon—the Philippines' largest island—before moving offshore by Monday.
Meanwhile, local broadcaster ABS-CBN News reports numerous flight cancellations as residents prepare for the impending storm. Ariel Nepomuceno, head of civil defense, reiterated the risks for those in landslide-prone areas, stressing that increased saturation from past storms has heightened the threat. Glenda Llamas, a displaced resident, articulated her fear of the storm's potential intensity and rising floodwaters, saying, "If we didn't evacuate we wouldn't be able to get out later." Melchor Bilay, another evacuee, echoed concerns stemming from previous disasters that have left lasting psychological impacts.
Though the Philippines is accustomed to tropical storms, meteorologists note that having this many storms in November is unusual. Recent weather conditions have included Tropical Storm Trami, which precipitated a month's worth of rainfall in late October and led to numerous fatalities. This was subsequently followed by Typhoon Kong-rey, which was notably the most significant typhoon to strike Taiwan in nearly three decades, and Typhoon Usagi, which brought a substantial storm surge and severe rainfall.
The impacts of climate change are also under scrutiny. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that while the global number of tropical cyclones may not rise significantly, their intensity and precipitation rates are likely to increase, resulting in a higher incidence of severe storms. As the Philippines faces yet another climate challenge, the urgency for sustainable solutions continues to grow.
