ManilaTimes-Nov 18
Super Typhoon Pepito slammed into Luzon on Sunday, with the national weather agency warning the public to brace for flooding, landslides and huge waves. Pepito, internationally code-named Man-yi, was packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour after making its first landfall late Saturday on Catanduanes island. More than 1.2 million people fled their homes ahead of Pepito as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of a “life-threatening” impact from the powerful storm, which follows an unusual streak of violent weather. The typhoon uprooted trees, brought down power lines and smashed flimsy houses to pieces after hitting Catanduanes. No deaths have been reported, but there was extensive damage to structures •on Catanduanes, Office of Civil Defense chief Ariel Nepomuceno said. On its current trajectory, the storm will cross north of Metro Manila and sweep over the South China Sea on Monday. Forecasters also warned storm surges of up to more than 3 meters could swamp vulnerable coastal communities. The Philippines is battered by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. It’s often hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. Read more at: https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/11/18/podcasts/headlines-12m-flee-as-pepito-pummels-luzon-november-18-2024/2006057
