A powerful super typhoon, Man-yi, also known as Pepito, is intensifying as it approaches the Philippines’ largest island, Luzon. On Sunday, over half a million people sought refuge in shelters ahead of the storm’s second landfall, which is expected in the afternoon. Man-yi initially struck the island province of Catanduanes on Saturday night before moving toward Luzon’s coast.
This is the fourth typhoon to hit the Philippines in less than two weeks, marking an unprecedented string of storms in the region. Man-yi is forecast to weaken as it moves across Luzon, home to more than half the nation’s population, but it still presents a “potentially dangerous and life-threatening situation,” according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
With maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 kph (143 mph), Man-yi is comparable to a Category 3 hurricane. The Philippines is regularly hit by typhoons, but the repeated onslaught of storms this month has complicated relief efforts, with thousands of people still displaced from previous evacuations.
In anticipation of the storm, more than 500,000 people in the Bicol region were evacuated, and thousands more from other provinces, including Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, sought safety in shelters. While the storm has caused damage to homes, schools, and businesses in Catanduanes, no fatalities have been reported so far.
As Man-yi moves through Luzon, it is expected to bring catastrophic storm surges, severe flooding, and widespread power outages. The typhoon’s intensity is partly attributed to the warming ocean temperatures, which are supercharged by human-caused climate change. This marks a growing concern for the Southeast Asian region, which is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.