After the sixth major storm to hit the Philippines in a month tore up flimsy structures, knocked out power, and claimed at least one life, Filipinos cleared fallen trees and repaired damaged homes on Monday ( Nov 18 ).
The national weather service had warned of a “potentially catastrophic” impact from Man-yi, which was a super typhoon when it hit over the weekend, but President Ferdinand Marcos said on Monday it “was n’t as bad as we feared”.
Packing optimum sustained wind speeds of 185kmh, Man-yi slammed into Catanduanes area late on Saturday, and the main island of Luzon on Sunday afternoon.
It uprooted trees, brought down power lines, crushed earthen buildings and triggered floods, but did not cause severe flooding.
” Though Pepito was strong, the impact was n’t as bad as we feared”, Marcos said, according to an official record of his remarks to the internet, using the local brand for Man-yi.
According to Marcos, one fatality was reported in Camarines Norte province, which is “one casualty to many.” Authorities said the sufferer, a 79-year-old gentleman, died after his bicycle was caught in a power line.
There have n’t been any additional reports of fatalities or injuries so far.
” We will now move forward with the rescue of those ( in ) isolated areas and the ongoing relief for those who have been displaced, have no means to prepare their own meals, or have no water supplies,” Marcos said.
According to municipal information officer Camille Gianan, power outages in the Catanduanes state province could last for weeks after Man-yi fell electricity poles.
” Catanduanes has been seriously damaged by that storms- we need meal packages, health products and design materials”, Gianan said.
” Many homes made of light materials were flattened, and some had their roof, doors, and windows blown out,” according to the report.