Usagi, another typhoon, has reached the Philippines. The element, which at one point was called a super typhoon, brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds. The authorities evacuated over 20,000 residents. The violent weather will not leave this Asian country so quickly, because another threat is lurking in the forecast.
On Thursday afternoon local time, Typhoon Usagi, known as Ophel in the Philippines, hit the Philippine province of Cagyan. At its peak, specifically in the early morning of the same day, the element was a super typhoon with maximum winds reaching a speed of 185 kilometers per hour. A few hours later, the wind speed decreased and the typhoon lost its designation. These types of elements gain the prefix “super” when their wind speed reaches 185 km/h and more.
Currently, the wind associated with this cyclone reaches a speed of 155 km/h and its strength is slowly weakening.
Forecasted path of typhoon OfelPAGASA
Tens of thousands evacuated
According to government data, more than 24,000 people in Cagayan province have been evacuated, the Reuters news agency reported.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on residents of disaster-affected areas to “heed warnings” from local authorities.
– Thesewho have been ordered to evacuate, please do so for your own safety, he said.
“We expect the Cagayan River to rise again due to the heavy rains brought by the typhoon,” said Rueli Rapsing, head of the Cagayan disaster office. He added that moderate to heavy rains were occurring in the central and southern parts of the province, while gusty winds were blowing in other parts. Necessary equipment, such as power generators, are ready in anticipation of power outages and communication disruptions.
This is not the end of the violent weather
The last few weeks have not been easy for many people in the Philippines. Another one is approaching the country, the sixth in the last month storm – Man-yi is forecast to hit the central part of the country on Saturday. All non-essential travel is discouraged in central provinces, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement on Thursday.
On average, about 20 tropical storms hit the Philippines every year, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and landslides.
In October, other typhoons, Trami and Kong-rey, hit the main island of Luzon, killing nearly 160 people. 22 people are still missing, according to data from the national disaster agency.
Evacuations in the PhilippinesPAP/EPA/FRANCE R. MALASIG
Reuters, Rappler, AlJazeera, AFP, PAGASA
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/FRANCE R. MALASIG