It will be the sixth major storm to hit the Philippines in a month. Previous attacks have killed at least 163 people, left thousands homeless, destroyed crops and killed livestock.
Typhoon, hurricane, cyclone: what are the differences?
Each year, more than 80 violent atmospheric disturbances develop over tropical oceans. But when should we speak of a tropical storm, cyclone, hurricane or typhoon?
Millions of people are threatened and more than 650,000 people have fled their homes as this “super typhoon” with winds of up to 240 km/h approaches and will make landfall late Saturday or early Sunday. “A potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation is looming in the northeastern Bicol region as super typhoon Pepito further intensifies,” the weather agency warns.
On Saturday, the government called on the population to heed the warnings and take shelter. “If a preventive evacuation is necessary, let's do it and not wait for the hour of danger to evacuate or seek help, […] we will endanger not only our lives, but also those of our rescuers,” said Marlo Iringan, Undersecretary of the Interior.
Curfew and forced evacuations
In the island province of Catanduanes in the typhoon-plagued Bicol region, the weather agency is warning of severe flooding and landslides. Roberto Monterola, provincial disaster official, said he had deployed the military to force about 100 households in two coastal villages near Virac to head inland for fear the storm would submerge their homes.
“Regardless of the exact point of arrival, heavy precipitation, strong winds and storm surges may occur in areas outside the expected arrival zone,” the weather agency said.
Back “to the medieval era”-
In Northern Samar province disaster official Rei Josiah Echano says the damage caused by typhoons is the cause of poverty in the region. “Every time we have a typhoon like this, it takes us back to the medieval era.”
All vessels, from fishing boats to tankers, have been ordered to stay in port or return to dock. Nearly 4,000 people were stranded after the coast guard closed 55 ports.
Rare sequence
Every year, around 20 major storms and typhoons hit the Philippines or its surrounding waters, killing dozens of people, but it is rare for several such weather events to occur in a short period of time.
