### Typhoon Man-yi Forces Mass Evacuations and Causes Widespread Damage in the Philippines

A massive typhoon has devastated northern Philippines, destroying homes, causing extensive tidal surges, and compelling hundreds of thousands of residents to seek refuge in emergency shelters. This marks the sixth major storm to hit the region in less than a month, highlighting the Archipelago's vulnerability to such natural disasters.

Typhoon Man-yi hit the eastern island province of Catanduanes on Saturday night with ferocious winds reaching up to 195 kilometers (125 miles) per hour and gusts peaking at 240 kph (149 mph). The country's weather agency warned of a "potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation" for the provinces lying in its path.

Although there were no immediate reports of casualties, the typhoon was expected to track northwestward across northern Luzon on Sunday. While the metropolitan area of Manila might be spared a direct strike, it, along with other nearby regions, has been placed under storm alerts and warned about perilous coastal storm surges.

Roberto Monterola, a disaster-mitigation officer in Catanduanes, described the typhoon's impact, noting the unusually strong wind accompanied by an eerie howling sound. He reported that tidal surges reached over 7 meters (23 feet), creating an alarming situation for seaside residents. As a result, the entire province lost power after the storm uprooted trees and damaged electricity poles.

Monterola emphasized the desperate need for tin roofs and other construction materials, along with food supplies. "Villagers tell us here that they still haven't gotten up from the past storm and were pinned down again by this typhoon," he said, adding that nearly half of Catanduanes' 80,000 residents were in evacuation centers.

Local officials in Catanduanes were so concerned about the typhoon that they warned villagers with potential arrest if they didn't evacuate to safer areas. Across the northern Philippines, more than 750,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters, including churches and a shopping mall, due to Man-yi and two preceding storms.

The unprecedented frequency of storms has caused extensive damage, left over 160 people dead, affected 9 million others, and devastated residential areas, infrastructure, and farmlands. This extensive damage may force the Philippines to import additional rice, a critical staple food. In light of the brewing crisis, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged his Cabinet and provincial leaders to prepare for "the worst-case scenario."

The disaster response efforts included the temporary closure of 26 domestic airports and two international airports, with inter-island ferry and cargo services suspended due to rough seas. Thousands of passengers and commuters were stranded, adding to the chaos.

Assistance poured in internationally, with the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei providing cargo aircraft and other aid to aid the Philippines' overwhelmed disaster-response agencies. The first storm of the season, Trami, had previously caused significant casualties after dumping a month's worth of rain in 24 hours last month, exacerbating the region's distress.

The Philippines, frequently battered by about 20 typhoons and storms annually, remains one of the world's most disaster-prone countries with hazards including earthquakes and active volcanoes.