Typhoon Yinxing batters Northern Philippines: Mass evacuations
Typhoon Yinxing has hit an Asian country. The natural disaster devastates the northern part of the Philippines, causing floods and landslides. Thousands of people have had to be evacuated.
12:58 PM EST, November 8, 2024
According to reports from "The Independent," Typhoon Yinxing, referred to as Marce by Filipinos, reached the Philippines in the late afternoon of Thursday, November 7. It flooded villages, toppled trees and power poles, and destroyed homes and other buildings. On Friday, authorities were still warning about life-threatening conditions persisting.
The Philippines fights the elements
Approximately 40,000 people had to be evacuated to safer regions from parts of the Cagayan province, the neighboring provinces of Apayao and Ilocos Norte, and Luzon Island.
In the northernmost province of Batanes, Governor Marilou Cayco, I reported that strong winds and rains blew off house roofs and damaged seaports and two domestic airport terminals.
Yinxing, with winds reaching speeds from approximately 93 to 127 mph, is moving towards the Ilocos Norte province. According to forecasts, it is expected to reach Vietnam soon but will lose strength before it does.
Difficult situation in the Philippines
New damages complicate rescue operations after two powerful typhoons hit the northern region in recent weeks. Tropical storm Trami, which brought in some areas rainfall equivalent to about two months' worth of rain in just 24 hours, and Typhoon Kong-rey caused the death of at least 151 people in the Philippines and affected nearly nine million people, mainly in northern and central provinces. Damages to crops and infrastructure have been estimated at approximately $240 million.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decided not to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru next week to focus on rescue efforts in the country.
On average, the Philippines records 20 storms of varying intensity annually.
