As Super Typhoon Man-yi barrels toward the Philippines, authorities have issued dire warnings, urging mass evacuations from vulnerable areas. The typhoon, locally known as Pepito, has intensified to sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) with gusts reaching up to 215 km/h (133 mph). Expected to make landfall near the island province of Catanduanes late Saturday or early Sunday, the powerful storm threatens widespread devastation, particularly in areas that have been battered by recent storms.
Hundreds of thousands of residents have fled to safer ground, heeding evacuation orders in preparation for potentially life-threatening storm surges, intense rainfall, and destructive winds. Approximately 255,000 people have already evacuated, especially in regions prone to landslides, flooding, and storm surges, according to Marlo Iringan, undersecretary for the interior department. In a statement, Iringan urged the public to act swiftly, stating, “If preemptive evacuation is required, let us do so to avoid risking lives.”
Catanduanes and neighboring provinces are bracing for severe impacts. In the island capital, Virac, over 400 evacuees are sheltering in government buildings as evacuation centers fill to capacity. Officials report fears of structural damage, especially in buildings with glass walls or previous typhoon damage. Soldiers were deployed to enforce evacuations in coastal villages near Virac, where fears of storm surges are high.
Albay province residents have taken refuge in schools and public buildings, with some families experiencing overcrowded and uncomfortable conditions. Myrna Perea, a local grocer sheltering with her family, described the conditions as “hot and cramped,” but stressed the priority of staying safe. “Even if our house is destroyed, the important thing is we do not lose a family member,” she added.
The Philippines has been ravaged by a series of powerful typhoons in recent weeks, claiming at least 163 lives and causing widespread destruction across agricultural and residential areas. Catanduanes is among the areas still recovering from these storms, facing additional destruction with little time to rebuild. For residents like Diana Moraleda, who lives in the northern town of Appari, the series of typhoons has left damaged homes and a shortage of construction workers who are occupied repairing their own properties.
Experts attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of typhoons to climate change. The Philippines, an archipelago with high exposure to typhoons, is hit by about 20 storms annually. As rising ocean temperatures fuel stronger storms, the impacts are felt in rural and urban communities alike, with increased flooding, landslides, and fatalities. In the face of Super Typhoon Man-yi, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos admitted feeling overwhelmed by the frequent extreme weather events and the challenges they pose to relief operations.
In flood-prone Metro Manila, residents are also on high alert, with storm surges expected to impact the capital if the typhoon’s path shifts toward the city. For Alvin Sevilla, a resident of Malabon, the flood warnings bring concerns about the capital’s readiness to withstand Man-yi. Disaster response teams have mobilized to prepare for potential damage to vital infrastructure like roads, airports, and bridges.
In Northern Samar, where frequent typhoons contribute to poverty, disaster officer Rei Josiah Echano noted the cyclical devastation. “Each typhoon brings us back to square one,” he said. Typhoons not only destroy homes but also wipe out critical resources like crops and livestock, causing long-term setbacks for the region’s economy.
As climate activists advocate for change at the global level, Filipino youth activist Mitzi Jonelle Tan is calling on wealthy nations to provide financial support to countries like the Philippines. Addressing the climate summit COP29, which began this week in Azerbaijan, Tan underscored the need for loss and damage funds from high-emitting countries. “The climate crisis is here. Typhoons will continue to come, but the impacts don’t have to be as devastating,” she stated.
The government has mobilized aid for regions hit hardest by recent storms, distributing nearly 1.5 million food packs in Bicol after Typhoon Trami alone. However, logistical and human resource challenges persist as relief workers tire under the strain of continuous disaster response.
Relief efforts are further complicated by logistical bottlenecks. Last month, President Marcos expressed frustration upon learning that flooding had cut off access to relief supplies. In Bicol’s Naga City, Raffy Magno and his family, who lost almost everything to a recent typhoon, are taking additional precautions this time. “We will need to bring the refrigerator to the second floor,” Magno said, recalling the floodwaters that inundated their home.
The United Nations has appealed for $32.9 million in aid for the Philippines, citing the urgent need for basic supplies such as sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and safe drinking water. A UN report highlighted the staggering damage to over 207,000 homes and displacement of 700,000 people, while warning of long-term food supply challenges due to crop devastation and delays in replanting.
As Man-yi’s approach brings yet another storm to the region, authorities and residents are holding out hope that the typhoon will pass without exacerbating the already dire situation. For many, though, the increasing intensity of typhoons serves as a stark reminder that the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change is already reshaping daily life and survival.
