Deadly Super Typhoon Pepito Forces Mass Evacuations in the Philippines

The Philippines is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Man-Yi, as tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and numerous flights have been canceled. The powerful storm, packing winds of 185 kph (115 mph), is expected to make landfall in the eastern part of Luzon on Saturday night or early Sunday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised the second-highest storm alert for the provinces of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur. The agency warns of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potentially dangerous storm surges exceeding 3 meters in coastal areas.

A church in Pilar, Sorsogon is serving as an evacuation center for families displaced by Super Typhoon Pepito. Photo credit: Joey Lobrin

Nearly 180,000 people in the Bicol region have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. Additionally, dozens of flights in the eastern Visayas region have been canceled due to the impending storm.

While Man-Yi is expected to weaken as it moves inland, it is projected to remain a typhoon until it reaches the South China Sea.

The Philippines is frequently battered by typhoons, with an average of 20 storms making landfall each year. In October, Tropical Storm Trami and Typhoon Kong-rey caused widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in the deaths of 162 people and leaving 22 missing.

The national road from the Capitol to San Antonio, Diffun, Quirino Province is now open to traffic. However, the Rizal to Villa Pascua overflow bridge remains impassable due to flooding.

This month, a rare occurrence of four tropical storms simultaneously active in the western Pacific Ocean has been observed, a first since 1951, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.