Sat Nov 16 17:08:17 UTC 2024: ## Super Typhoon Man-yi Pummels Philippines, Forcing Mass Evacuations

**Manila, Philippines (November 17, 2024)** — Super Typhoon Man-yi slammed into the Philippines on November 16th, 2024, causing widespread devastation and forcing over 650,000 people to evacuate their homes. The storm, the sixth major typhoon to hit the country in the past month, brought maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (121 mph) and gusts reaching 325 kilometers per hour (202 mph) upon making landfall on the island province of Catanduanes.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening” situation, particularly for the Bicol region. Massive waves, reaching up to 14 meters (46 feet) high, battered Catanduanes’ coastline, while Manila and other coastal areas faced the threat of storm surges exceeding three meters in the following 48 hours.

Power was cut on Catanduanes, with shelters and command centers relying on generators. Catanduanes provincial disaster operations chief Roberto Monterola reported hearing sounds of falling debris amidst the intense winds, though no casualties were immediately reported.

The relentless string of typhoons has already claimed at least 163 lives in recent weeks, leaving thousands homeless and causing significant agricultural damage. The government urged citizens to heed evacuation orders, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety.

Man-yi is expected to potentially impact Luzon, the country’s most populous island, as a super typhoon or typhoon on Sunday before moving over the South China Sea on Monday. The storm’s heavy rainfall also poses a risk of lahars (volcanic mudflows) from several volcanoes. The late-season typhoon is noteworthy, as earlier this month four storms simultaneously existed in the Pacific basin—an unprecedented November event according to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s records since 1951. The impact of climate change on the increased intensity of these storms is a growing concern.

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