Additional Coverage:
- Latest typhoon batters the Philippines, causing tidal surges and displacing about 400,000 people (newsbreak.com)
A powerful typhoon, Man-yi, has ravaged the northern Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate.
The storm slammed into Catanduanes on Saturday night with winds of up to 125 mph, causing towering tidal surges that reached 23 feet in some areas. The weather agency warned of a life-threatening situation for provinces in its path.
There have been no reported casualties so far, but Catanduanes has been left without power and authorities are assessing the damage. Officials threatened residents with arrest if they refused to evacuate.
Man-yi is the sixth major storm to hit the Philippines in less than a month, causing extensive damage to communities, infrastructure, and farmlands. The country may now need to import rice, a staple food.
The government is struggling to respond to the multiple storms, and has received aid from the US and other countries. The Philippines is frequently hit by disasters due to its location in a typhoon-prone area and its numerous volcanoes and active earthquake zones.