Philippines prepares for Typhoon “Man-Yi” after Usagi causes significant damage
Over 24 000 residents of the Cagayan province were evacuated ahead of Typhoon “Usagi,” which made landfall on November 14, 2024, as a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon. While the storm has caused significant damage and displaced thousands, the country is already preparing for the next threat — Typhoon “Man-Yi.”
- Super Typhoon “Usagi” made landfall over the Cagayan region on November 14, 2024 causing widespread flooding, displacing thousands, and knocking down power lines.
- A bridge in Luzon collapsed due to strong river currents, while several other bridges were submerged and rendered unusable.
- As of November 15, the storm was moving southwards toward Taiwan, prompting the issuance of Land and Sea Warnings for regions like Pingtung and Hengchun.
- The Philippines is bracing for Typhoon “Man-Yi,” which is expected to develop into a super typhoon by November 17 and potentially impact eastern towns and Manila, with preemptive evacuations starting on November 15.
Typhoon “Usagi” made landfall over the Cagayan region in the Philippines on November 14, flooding villages, displacing thousands, and knocking down power lines across the region.
Over 24 000 people were evacuated from the Cagayan province ahead of the typhoon’s landfall, which had rapidly intensified into a Category 4-equivalent super typhoon on November 13. No casualties related to the typhoon have been reported thus far.
A bridge connecting two towns in the Luzon region collapsed on November 14 after rampaging river currents struck it. Several other bridges were engulfed in floodwaters and rendered unusable, provincial officials said. Rescue operatives were seen using boats to rescue people in the affected regions.
As of November 15, the system was moving southwards towards Taiwan, where the meteorological agency issued a Land Warning on November 14, followed by a Sea Warning issued on the morning of November 15.
The Land Warning covers the Pingtung and Hengchun regions in southern Taiwan. Rainfall is expected to intensify on November 15, with Hualien and Taitung expecting the heaviest downpours. Pingtung will also experience heavy rains due to the system on November 15 and 16.
Several flights and ferry services across Taiwan have been suspended, while rail services have been halted in the Alishan region through November 15 and 16.
Usagi was the fifth major storm to batter the Philippines in less than a month, coming just two days after Typhoon “Toraji” struck the region, forcing over 80 000 people to evacuate. Many of those displaced by the previous storms were still in emergency shelters when Usagi struck.
The impact of the five storms has claimed at least 162 lives, left around 22 people missing, displaced 9 million people across the country, and severely damaged farmland and infrastructure.
The government has spent more than 1 billion pesos ($17 million) on food and other aid for hundreds of thousands of storm victims, Welfare Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.
Meanwhile, the country is now bracing for the next storm brewing in the western Pacific. Typhoon “Man-yi” — known as Pepito in the Philippines, is expected to develop into a super typhoon by November 17 and could hit eastern towns along with the region around the capital city of Manila over the weekend.
Preemptive evacuations for Man-yi will begin on November 15.
At 09:00 UTC (17:00 local time) on November 15, the center of Typhoon “Man-yi” was located approximately 465 km (289 miles) east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The system had maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (93 mph) with gusts reaching up to 185 km/h (115 mph). Typhoon Man-yi was moving northwestward at 30 km/h (19 mph).
According to the latest PAGASA forecat track, Man-yi is likely to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes tomorrow evening (LT), November 16, or early morning on Sunday, November 17.
However, considering the forecast confidence cone’s limits, landfall scenarios along the eastern coast of Camarines Sur, Albay, or Sorsogon during the same period, on the eastern coast of Northern Samar tomorrow afternoon or evening, or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora on Sunday afternoon or evening cannot be ruled out.
Regardless of the landfall point, Man-yi (Pepito) is expected to continue moving generally west-northwestward over the weekend, passing over or near the landmasses of the Bicol Region, Quezon, Central Luzon provinces, and Pangasinan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on Sunday evening or Monday morning, November 18.
Heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surges may still affect areas outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.
Man-yi is expected to rapidly intensify today and tomorrow, potentially reaching super typhoon status before its landfall tomorrow evening or early Sunday morning.
While slight weakening may occur after its initial passage over land, significant weakening is expected on Sunday as Man-yi traverses Central Luzon. Nevertheless, it will likely remain a typhoon as it crosses the country and will be downgraded to a severe tropical storm once it moves over the West Philippine Sea on Monday.
References:
1 Typhoon Usagi wreaks more damage and misery in Philippines as yet another storm looms – AP – November 15, 2024
2 Over 24,000 evacuated in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Usagi makes landfall – SCMP – November 15, 2024
3 Taiwan issues warning as Typhoon Usagi nears – Xinhua – November 14, 2024
4 Philippines braces for typhoon Man-yi as Usagi weakens – Reuters – November 15, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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