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Philippines on high alert as Super Typhoon Haima hits country Super typhoon Haima causes widespread destruction in Philippines
(about 5 hours later)
Millions of people in the Philippines have been put on high alert as one of the strongest typhoons ever hit the country with authorities warning of giant storm surges and destructive winds. One of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit the Philippines destroyed houses, tore roofs off schools and ripped giant trees out of the ground on Thursday.
Super Typhoon Haima reached the northern province of Cagayan at about 11pm local time (1500 GMT) on Wednesday, bringing strong winds and heavy rains almost on a par with the catastrophic Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 7,350 people in 2013. Super typhoon Haima hit the northern province of Cagayan late on Wednesday night with winds almost on a par with catastrophic Haiyan, which was then the strongest storm to strike the disaster-prone south-east Asian archipelago and claimed more than 7,350 lives in 2013.
“We only pray we be spared the destruction such as the previous times, which brought agony and suffering,” the country’s president, Rodrigo Duterte, said in Beijing, where he is on a four-day visit. “But we are ready. Everything has been deployed.” Haima roared across mountain and farming communities of the northern regions of the main island of Luzon overnight, and by morning a picture was emerging of widespread destruction.
The Himawari-8 satellite captured this true-color image of Typhoon Haima in the W. Pacific on 10/19. More imagery at https://t.co/jRlat3bnOa pic.twitter.com/AlWFhvWU82The Himawari-8 satellite captured this true-color image of Typhoon Haima in the W. Pacific on 10/19. More imagery at https://t.co/jRlat3bnOa pic.twitter.com/AlWFhvWU82
Haima has a weather band of 500 miles (800km), putting more than 10 million people across the northern parts of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon within its reach, according to the government’s disaster risk management agency. “Rice and corn plants as far as the eye can see are flattened,” Villamor Visaya, a university teacher in Ilagan, one of the main northern cities with a population of 130,000 people, said.
The storm struck the Philippines with sustained winds of 140mph (225kph) and gusts of 195mph, said the state weather forecaster Gener Quitlong. “Many houses were destroyed. I saw one school building crushed under a large tree ... it was as if our house was being pulled from its foundations.”
It is expected to move westward through the mountainous northern end of Luzon and will exit the landmass by Thursday, he said. It is then expected to track towards southern China. Haima hit coastal towns facing the Pacific ocean with sustained winds of 225km/h (140mph), and wind gusts of up to 315km/h.
The civil defence chief, Ricardo Jalad, said all areas in the storm’s path had been evacuated although he could not give an estimate on how many people had fled. It weakened overnight as it hit mountain ranges and by 9am on Thursday was leaving the western edge of Luzon, heading towards southern China.
“We are expecting that there will be damages to light structures” as well as danger from possible floods and landslides, Jalad told the radio station DZMM. Jefferson Soriano, the mayor of Tuguegarao, the capital of Cagayan where Haima made landfall, reported badly damaged schools and gymnasiums where people had sought shelter.
Authorities warned coastal communities to expect storm surges of five metres (16ft) or higher. “They are calling for help because the roofs have been torn off. The problem is, our rescuers here are unable to go out and help,” Soriana told DZMM radio before dawn.
“It’s already started. The wind is strong, the waves are big,” said Julie Hermano, the manager of a small resort in Santa Ana, a coastal town of about 30,000 people that is in the typhoon’s path. President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday night all possible preparations had been made for Haima, with tens of thousands of people evacuated, but he still struck an ominous tone.
“Some residents have been panic-buying food in markets because we were told it’s going to be a super typhoon. We’ve already tied down our water tank and prepared our [power] generator set.” “We only pray we be spared the destruction such as the previous times, which brought agony and suffering,” Duterte said in Beijing, during a state visit. “But we are ready. Everything has been deployed.”
The Philippine islands are often the first major landmass to be hit by storms that are generated over the Pacific Ocean. The south-east Asian archipelago endures about 20 major storms each year, many of them deadly. About 10 million people across the northern parts of Luzon were at risk, the government’s disaster risk management agency said on Wednesday.
The Philippine islands are often the first major landmass to be hit by storms that are created over the Pacific ocean. The south-east Asian archipelago endures about 20 major storms each year, many of them deadly.
The most powerful and deadliest was Haiyan, which destroyed entire towns in heavily populated areas of the central Philippines.The most powerful and deadliest was Haiyan, which destroyed entire towns in heavily populated areas of the central Philippines.
“We are possibly dealing with a typhoon that is even stronger than Typhoon Yolanda [as Haiyan was known in the Philippines] in 2013. We must therefore brace ourselves for the possible effects of a typhoon of this magnitude,” said the government’s executive secretary, Salvador Medialdea. The capital of Manila is about 350km south of where Haima struck land.
“We call on all government agencies to be on highest level of preparedness and to take all necessary precautions.” However the city, with about 12 million people, was not affected, hit only by moderate winds overnight and little rain.
In the northern regions expected to be worst hit, tens of thousands of people sought refuge in schools and other makeshift evacuation centres as authorities raised the highest typhoon alert, signal five. Flights to the north were also suspended and schools closed. Haima was the second typhoon to hit the northern Philippines in a week, after Sarika struck on Sunday claiming at least one life and leaving three people missing.
Power to some areas was cut off late on Wednesday as strong winds heralding Haima’s landfall brought down electricity cables.
The Philippine capital, Manila, is about 215 miles south of where Haima struck land.
Authorities said the city of about 12 million people was not expected to be badly affected although it would experience some rain.
Haima is the second typhoon to hit the northern Philippines in a week, after Sarika struck on Sunday killing at least one person and leaving three others missing.