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Typhoon Mangkhut: First Deaths Reported as Storm Churns Through Philippines Typhoon Mangkhut: First Deaths Reported as Storm Churns Through Philippines
(35 minutes later)
Typhoon Mangkhut struck the Philippines early Saturday, after tens of thousands of people evacuated their homes to escape the 550-mile-wide storm as it roared across the Pacific. More than 12 hours after landfall, at least three deaths were reported, but there were no signs of the kind of devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan five years ago.Typhoon Mangkhut struck the Philippines early Saturday, after tens of thousands of people evacuated their homes to escape the 550-mile-wide storm as it roared across the Pacific. More than 12 hours after landfall, at least three deaths were reported, but there were no signs of the kind of devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan five years ago.
Still, officials had barely begun to assess the damage. Some places could not be contacted because of communication outages, and several provinces had suffered complete power blackouts.Still, officials had barely begun to assess the damage. Some places could not be contacted because of communication outages, and several provinces had suffered complete power blackouts.
The ferocity of the storm — which arrived at 1:40 a.m. with maximum sustained winds of around 120 miles per hour — in some ways eclipsed Hurricane Florence on the other side of the world, which was pummeling the Mid-Atlantic Coast of the United States with life-threatening rains and flooding.The ferocity of the storm — which arrived at 1:40 a.m. with maximum sustained winds of around 120 miles per hour — in some ways eclipsed Hurricane Florence on the other side of the world, which was pummeling the Mid-Atlantic Coast of the United States with life-threatening rains and flooding.
By 2 p.m., Mangkhut’s eye had crossed Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island, and was 55 miles off its west coast, headed for Hong Kong and southern China, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The typhoon had weakened somewhat but still had gusts of up to 160 miles an hour, the Philippine weather service said. By 4 p.m., Mangkhut’s eye had crossed Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island, and was about 100 miles off its west coast, headed for Hong Kong and southern China, according to the Philippine weather service. The typhoon had weakened somewhat but still had gusts of up to 160 miles an hour, the agency said.
Manuel Mamba, the governor of Cagayan Province, where the storm made landfall, said nearly 10,000 people there had taken shelter in evacuation centers as the typhoon was nearing, and he credited that for the limited casualty reports so far.Manuel Mamba, the governor of Cagayan Province, where the storm made landfall, said nearly 10,000 people there had taken shelter in evacuation centers as the typhoon was nearing, and he credited that for the limited casualty reports so far.
Hours later, local news media reported that two rescue workers had been killed in landslides in the Cordillera region. Other outlets reported that landslides killed two women in the mountain town of Baguio, citing Philippine national police, but it was not immediately clear if they were referring the same people.Hours later, local news media reported that two rescue workers had been killed in landslides in the Cordillera region. Other outlets reported that landslides killed two women in the mountain town of Baguio, citing Philippine national police, but it was not immediately clear if they were referring the same people.
The police said the body of another victim, a young girl, was found in the Marikina River in the eastern part of metropolitan Manila, the capital.The police said the body of another victim, a young girl, was found in the Marikina River in the eastern part of metropolitan Manila, the capital.
Manila seemed to have been spared major damage, though trees were uprooted and areas were flooded. More than 1,600 families were evacuated after the Marikina River, which runs through part of the city, began rising quickly because of runoff from nearby mountains. Manila seemed to have been spared major damage, though trees were uprooted and areas were flooded.
[Catch up on the rest of our storm coverage.][Catch up on the rest of our storm coverage.]
Strong winds and heavy rain battered northern and central Luzon as the eye of Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the island, the largest and most populous in the Philippines, in the early morning hours of Saturday.Strong winds and heavy rain battered northern and central Luzon as the eye of Typhoon Mangkhut slammed into the island, the largest and most populous in the Philippines, in the early morning hours of Saturday.
The eye made landfall over Baggao in Cagayan Province around 1:40 a.m., according to the country’s national weather service, and moved west across the country, reaching the opposite coast near Laoag City by 9 a.m. The eye made landfall over Baggao in Cagayan Province around 1:40 a.m., according to the country’s national weather service, and moved west across the country, hitting the opposite coast near Laoag City by 9 a.m.
The maximum sustained wind speed of the typhoon had slowed to around 120 miles per hour as it reached Luzon’s shores, according to the national weather service, but some gusts still reached up to 200 miles per hour.The maximum sustained wind speed of the typhoon had slowed to around 120 miles per hour as it reached Luzon’s shores, according to the national weather service, but some gusts still reached up to 200 miles per hour.
Meteorologists in Manila said even the typhoon’s weaker winds could be deadly. “It can lift cars, you can’t stand, you can’t even crawl against that wind,” Rene Paciente, a government forecaster, told reporters.Meteorologists in Manila said even the typhoon’s weaker winds could be deadly. “It can lift cars, you can’t stand, you can’t even crawl against that wind,” Rene Paciente, a government forecaster, told reporters.
Roads were deserted in coastal Ilocos Sur, on the northwestern side of Luzon, as authorities warned of storm surges up to six feet in that province. Trees felled by the storm blocked roadways.Roads were deserted in coastal Ilocos Sur, on the northwestern side of Luzon, as authorities warned of storm surges up to six feet in that province. Trees felled by the storm blocked roadways.
Hannah Beech, a New York Times correspondent, was traveling along Luzon’s western and northern coasts on Saturday. Foliage, trees and rolling coconuts were strewn across the roads, which were deserted except for volunteer crews removing debris to make them passable and the occasional emergency vehicle.Hannah Beech, a New York Times correspondent, was traveling along Luzon’s western and northern coasts on Saturday. Foliage, trees and rolling coconuts were strewn across the roads, which were deserted except for volunteer crews removing debris to make them passable and the occasional emergency vehicle.
In Claveria, a corn- and rice-growing area on the northern coast, she spoke with the Antonio family, who had fled their home about 1 a.m. for sturdier shelter. Marck James Antonio, 24, stayed behind and was struck and gashed in the right temple by flying debris but was conscious and moving around.In Claveria, a corn- and rice-growing area on the northern coast, she spoke with the Antonio family, who had fled their home about 1 a.m. for sturdier shelter. Marck James Antonio, 24, stayed behind and was struck and gashed in the right temple by flying debris but was conscious and moving around.
“This was the strongest and the worst storm that I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said his mother, Teresita Antonio, 54. “I was crying before because I don’t know how I will be able to afford to fix my house.”“This was the strongest and the worst storm that I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said his mother, Teresita Antonio, 54. “I was crying before because I don’t know how I will be able to afford to fix my house.”
Earlier, with the authorities warning of storm surges, she and a driver pulled off the road in the town of San Juan and parked near city hall to wait for the eye of the storm to pass. At one point, the roof of a shed blew past.Earlier, with the authorities warning of storm surges, she and a driver pulled off the road in the town of San Juan and parked near city hall to wait for the eye of the storm to pass. At one point, the roof of a shed blew past.
In one community after another, she reported seeing downed trees and some badly damaged buildings. Signs, tin roofs and gates that had been torn free were flying about. In larger towns, many windows had been covered with tape for protection, but there was little sign of shattered glass.In one community after another, she reported seeing downed trees and some badly damaged buildings. Signs, tin roofs and gates that had been torn free were flying about. In larger towns, many windows had been covered with tape for protection, but there was little sign of shattered glass.
The 12 million residents of the metropolitan Manila area, one of the world’s most densely populated cities, appeared to have been spared major destruction as the center of the storm passed hundreds of miles to the north.
The megacity was hit by heavy rain and strong winds, with trees uprooted and flooding in some areas. Among the inundated roads was Roxas Boulevard, a major artery that runs along Manila Bay and often floods during storms.
More than 1,600 families were evacuated after the Marikina River, which runs through part of the city, began rising quickly because of runoff from nearby mountains. The police said the body of a child, about 10 years old, was found floating in the river under a bridge in Pasig, one of several cities that make up Metro Manila.
The Manila area sits near sea level on the shore of Manila Bay, making it vulnerable to the typhoons that sweep in from the Pacific.
Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,000 people in 2013, passed to the south of the city. Typhoon Haima, which killed 19 people in 2016, passed to the north, along a similar path to Typhoon Mangkhut.
Much of the planning for Mangkhut was informed by Typhoon Haiyan, the devastating 2013 storm that led to the deaths of thousands of people and left more than four million homeless.Much of the planning for Mangkhut was informed by Typhoon Haiyan, the devastating 2013 storm that led to the deaths of thousands of people and left more than four million homeless.
That storm taught many lessons. Food and fresh water must be in position before a storm hits, as roads and airports may be closed for a week or more afterward because of fallen trees and other damage. Soldiers and police officers need to fan out to restore order as soon as the typhoon passes, so that civil society does not collapse in storm-ravaged areas. And evacuation centers need to be built on higher ground, with stronger roofs.That storm taught many lessons. Food and fresh water must be in position before a storm hits, as roads and airports may be closed for a week or more afterward because of fallen trees and other damage. Soldiers and police officers need to fan out to restore order as soon as the typhoon passes, so that civil society does not collapse in storm-ravaged areas. And evacuation centers need to be built on higher ground, with stronger roofs.
The task of naming typhoons falls to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which uses names sequentially from a list suggested by different countries. But when typhoons enter the Philippines’ area of responsibility for storm monitoring, they are assigned a different name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the national meteorological agency. It has issued its own list each year since it was established in 1972. Thus, Mangkhut became Ompong in the Philippines.The task of naming typhoons falls to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which uses names sequentially from a list suggested by different countries. But when typhoons enter the Philippines’ area of responsibility for storm monitoring, they are assigned a different name by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the national meteorological agency. It has issued its own list each year since it was established in 1972. Thus, Mangkhut became Ompong in the Philippines.
Local names, the agency reasons, are easier to remember in rural areas and make the storms feel more immediate, increasing the chance that people will take them seriously.Local names, the agency reasons, are easier to remember in rural areas and make the storms feel more immediate, increasing the chance that people will take them seriously.
The Philippine agency also assigns names to tropical depressions, which are not named internationally, because even though they are less powerful than typhoons, they can still cause significant damage.The Philippine agency also assigns names to tropical depressions, which are not named internationally, because even though they are less powerful than typhoons, they can still cause significant damage.
The internationally recognized name for the typhoon, Mangkhut, is the Thai word for mangosteen, a tropical, reddish-purple fruit native to Southeast Asia.The internationally recognized name for the typhoon, Mangkhut, is the Thai word for mangosteen, a tropical, reddish-purple fruit native to Southeast Asia.
The mangosteen, which has a hard shell with white flesh inside, is cheap and plentiful in Asia but rarer and more expensive in the West, where it is nonetheless growing in popularity.The mangosteen, which has a hard shell with white flesh inside, is cheap and plentiful in Asia but rarer and more expensive in the West, where it is nonetheless growing in popularity.