22win Super Typhoon Pepito topples trees, power lines in Luzon
This handout photo from Marissa Cueva Alejandro taken and received on November 17, 2024 shows damaged houses during the aftermath of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) in Virac, Catanduanes province. Super Typhoon Pepito uprooted trees, brought down power lines and ripped off corrugated iron roofing as it swept across the storm-weary Philippines on November 17, following an unusual streak of violent weather. (Photo by Handout / Courtesy of Marissa Cueva Alejandro / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) slammed into the Philippines’ most populous island on Sunday, with the national weather service warning of flooding, landslides and huge waves as the storm sweeps across the archipelago nation.
Pepito was still packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometres per hour (115 miles per hour) after making its first landfall late Saturday on lightly populated Catanduanes island.
Article continues after this advertisementMore than 1.2 million people fled their homes ahead of Pepito as the weather forecaster warned of a “life-threatening” impact from the powerful storm, which follows an unusual streak of violent weather.
FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Super Typhoon Pepito to bring rains throughout PH on Sunday (Nov. 17) NEWSINFO Super Typhoon Pepito now approaching landfall in Catanduanes NEWSINFO Super Typhoon Pepito now over PH Sea east of Quezon, Signal # 5 up in 2 areasPepito uprooted trees, brought down power lines, and smashed flimsy houses to pieces after hitting Catanduanes in the typhoon-prone Bicol region.
READ: Super Typhoon Pepito Live Updates
Article continues after this advertisementNo deaths have been reported, but there was “extensive” damage to structures on Catanduanes, civil defence chief Ariel Nepomuceno said.
Article continues after this advertisementPepito remained a super typhoon as it hit heavily populated Luzon — the country’s economic engine — forecasters said, warning of a “potentially dangerous” situation in Aurora province.
Article continues after this advertisement“Significant weakening” was expected as it traversed the mountainous island, the weather service said.
But it said severe flooding and landslides were expected as Man-yi dumped “intense to torrential” rain over provinces in its path.
Article continues after this advertisementForecasters also warned storm surges of up to more than three metres could swamp vulnerable coastal communities, including in Manila.
Panganiban municipality in the northeast of Catanduanes took a direct hit from Pepito.
Photos and a drone video shared on the Facebook page of Mayor Cesar Robles showed fallen power lines, damaged and destroyed buildings, and trees and corrugated iron sheets strewn on the roads.
‘Bursts of wind’
“Pepito was so strong, I have never experienced a typhoon this strong,” Robles said in a post as clean-up efforts got underway and people returned home.
“It is still a bit unsafe, there are still bursts of wind and there are many debris,” he added.
Mother-of-three Marissa Cueva Alejandro, 36, who grew up in Catanduanes and sheltered with a relative during Man-yi, said typhoons were getting stronger.
“Before, we would only experience (typhoon) signal number three to four, but now typhoons are getting as strong as signal number five,” she said, referring to the weather service’s five-tiered wind warning system.
Pepito is the sixth storm in the past month to batter the archipelago nation. At least 163 people died in the previous storms, that also left thousands homeless and wiped out crops and livestock.
Climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, leading to heavier rains, flash floods and stronger gusts.
About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Southeast Asian nation or its surrounding waters each year, killing scores of people, but it is rare for multiple such weather events to take place in a small window.
Resorts deserted
The weather forecaster has hoisted its highest and second-highest typhoon signals over a wide band of provinces stretching from Luzon’s east coast, where Man-yi made its second landfall, across to the western side of the island where it will exit.
Around 2,000 people were in emergency evacuation shelters in Dipaculao municipality in Aurora province.
Others have stayed home to protect their property and livestock, or because they were sceptical of the warnings, said Geofry Parrocha, communications officer of Dipaculao disaster agency.
“Some of our countrymen are really hard-headed. They do not believe us until the typhoon arrives,” Parrocha told AFP.
Tourists emptied out of coastal resorts ahead of the typhoon.
“Our facilities are deserted,” said Irene Padeo, reservation officer of the L’Sirene Boutique Resort in Baler town in Aurora, as Pepito neared.
“Our outdoor items have all been packed and taken indoors. We tied down all the rest.”
On its current trajectory, Pepito will cross north of Manila and sweep over the South China Sea on Monday.
Pepito hit the Philippines late in the typhoon season —most cyclones develop between July and October.
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Earlier this month22win, four storms were clustered simultaneously in the Pacific basin, which the Japan Meteorological Agency told AFP was the first time such an occurrence had been observed in November since its records began in 1951.
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