Sat Nov 16 15:41:01 IST 2024: ## Philippines Braces for ‘Catastrophic’ Super Typhoon Man-yi, Millions at Risk
**Manila, Philippines** – The Philippines is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Man-yi, a potentially catastrophic storm expected to make landfall on Sunday. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to prepare for the worst-case scenario, as millions are at risk from the typhoon’s powerful winds, torrential rains, and potentially devastating storm surges.
Packing winds of 240 km/h (149 mph), Man-yi, the sixth storm to hit the archipelago in a single month, has prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, primarily in the Bicol region. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued its highest-level warnings for several provinces, including Catanduanes and parts of Camarines Sur, both still recovering from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Trami in October.
PAGASA warns of potentially catastrophic storm surges exceeding 3 meters (10 feet) in coastal areas of Luzon, the country’s largest island. Dozens of flights have already been cancelled. Curfews have been imposed in some areas to ensure residents seek shelter.
Evacuation centers are overflowing, with hundreds seeking refuge in government buildings and gymnasiums. One official described the situation in Catanduanes as severely overcrowded.
The Philippines, regularly battered by typhoons, is grappling with the increasing frequency and intensity of these storms. The country experienced an unprecedented four simultaneous typhoons in the western Pacific in November, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The October storms alone claimed over 160 lives. The government’s preparedness for another major natural disaster is now under intense scrutiny as Man-yi bears down.
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