MANILA (Agencies): Typhoon Man-yi [Pepito in the Philippines], swept past the Philippines leaving at least eight people dead and displacing hundreds of thousands as of November 19, media reported. The sixth major storm to hit the country in a month clocked sustained winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour when slammed into the eastern island province of Catanduanes on November 16.
A million people were impacted by Man-yi and the previous two severe storms, Trami [Kristine] and Kong-rey [Leon], according to the Philippine’s Office of Civil Defense, with upwards of 700,000 people fleeing their homes for emergency shelters.
It reported that nearly 8,000 houses were damaged or destroyed and a hundred cities and towns hit by power outages.
Camarines was reported to be the worst hit area with officials calling for help after water, electricity and mobile phone coverage was cut off by the fierce winds and rain.
In a social media post on November 17, the Diocese of Virac, Catanduanes, appealed for assistance saying that the rampaging storm had left many people with “devastated homes, disrupted livelihoods, and shattered hopes.”
Camarines was reported to be the worst hit area with officials calling for help after water, electricity and mobile phone coverage was cut off by the fierce winds and rain
It said “The island province of Catanduanes needs your help. We humbly appeal for your generosity and kindness to support them in this difficult time.”
According to a report on Inquirer.net, at least 26 domestic airports and two international airports were briefly shut and inter-island ferry and cargo services were suspended due to rough seas, stranding thousands of passengers and commuters.
However, on November 18, Philippine president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., said, “Though Pepito [Man-yi] was strong, the impact wasn’t as bad as we feared.”
Marcos told the media, “We will now carry on with the rescue of those [in] isolated areas and the continuing relief for those who are, who have been displaced and have no means to prepare their own meals and have no water supplies.”
Even as Man-yi approached, Caritas Philippines mobilised its resources for emergency preparedness, with social action centres across the potentially affected regions coordinating with local government units for disaster preparedness and response.
Even as Man-yi approached, Caritas Philippines mobilised its resources for emergency preparedness
“Caritas Philippines is ready to extend our hands to those in need. Let us open our hearts and share whatever we can to uplift those who will be most affected. Together, we can bring comfort, hope and strength to one another. Let’s go all out and be ready. All hands on deck,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines.
On the morning of November 18, the agency reported that 987,602,478 people had been evacuated in the Region V [Bicol] area, with over 10,400 families displaced in Catanduanes.
Apart from Cataduanes, other affected areas listed by Caritas Philippines in its situational report included, Camarinas Norte and Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Marinduque.
Among the measures undertaken were the opening of churches as temporary shelters, and the use of parish and Caritas evacuation centres.
