Super Typhoon Man-yi, or Pepito, pumels the Philippines’ busiest island, leaving destruction in its wake. It struck Catanduanes late Saturday with winds of 185 km/h and is now causing major havoc in Luzon, the country’s economic hub.
More than 1.2 million Filipinos fled ahead of the storm, but Pepito brought heavy rains, flooding, landslides, and powerful waves, causing massive damage to homes, power lines, and trees. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported yet, but local officials are still assessing the destruction.
The storm is expected to weaken but will continue to threaten vulnerable areas, with waves as high as three meters. As people return to assess their losses, many are reflecting on how typhoons are getting stronger each year, a worrying trend linked to climate change.