Philippines braces for another cyclone, after typhoon kills 20
03 November, 2020
Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte warned of another potentially damaging cyclone approaching the united states on Monday (Nov 2), as the death toll from the world's strongest typhoon of the entire year rose to 20.
Typhoon Goni, which battered provinces south of the administrative centre Manila on Sunday with gusts of up to 310kmh, may be the 18th to hit the Philippines this season and among the strongest typhoons since Haiyan killed a lot more than 6,300 persons in 2013.
The country's disaster agency on Monday said 20 persons have been killed in Albay and Catanduane provinces, up from the 16 it had previously reported. Officials said a forcible evacuation greater than 345,000 people had averted more deaths.
The remains of a truck submerged in mudflow from Mayon Volcano triggered by heavy rains from Typhoon Goni in the city of Guinobatan, Albay province, central Philippines on Nov 2, 2020. (Photo: AP)
Now another storm, Atsani, with gusts as high as 80kmh, is gaining strength over the Pacific Ocean and is expected to make landfall late this week.
"It isn't as powerful as (Goni) nonetheless it would cause damage in its path, on the roads and bridges," Duterte said in a televised Cabinet meeting.
The state weather agency forecasts 2-3 more typhoons to enter the Philippines in November and a different one to two in December. The Philippines, an archipelago greater than 7,600 islands, sees around 20 tropical storms annually.
Residents in provinces south of Manila have started clearing homes of mud and debris, while persons in still flooded communities were separated in tents inside evacuation centres in order to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.
Residents make an effort to save belongings after floodwaters due to Typhoon Goni rose of their village in Batangas city, Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines on Nov. 2, 2020. (Photo: AP/Aaron Favila)
Goni partially damaged a lot more than 55,000 homes and flattened 20,000 more, said disaster management chief Ricardo Jalad in the meeting.
More than 13,000 homes, some engulfed by an up to 5-metre storm surge, were damaged in the island province of Catanduanes when Goni made landfall on Sunday, provincial governor Joseph Cua told a news conference.
"While there is no more typhoon, we've no air and sea transportation," Cua said.
A female walks past an automobile that was swept by floodwaters due to Typhoon Goni in Batangas city, Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines on Nov 2, 2020. (Photo: AP/Aaron Favila)
COUNTING THE COST
Philippine Red Cross chairman and senator Richard Gordon said in a statement "this typhoon has smashed into people's lives and livelihoods along with the relentless physical, emotional and economical toll of COVID-19".
Duterte made an aerial inspection of the damage on Monday. Flying from his hometown Davao, he landed in Guinobatan town near to the Mayon volcano, the Philippines' most active volcano.
Duterte ordered an investigation into quarrying functions that residents complained had resulted in the burial of a huge selection of homes in volcanic rock and mud flows, presidential aide and senator Christopher Go told reporters.
Rescuers carry the body of a guy who drowned during floods as a result of Typhoon Goni in Camarines Sur province, eastern Philippines on Nov 1, 2020. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
Environment minister Roy Cimatu ordered the suspension of quarrying around the Mayon volcano, famous for its near-perfect cone.
In the aftermath of Typhoon Goni, a lot more than 50,000 homes were without power on the primary island of Luzon, which makes up about more than two-thirds of the Philippine economy.
Strong winds and torrential rain have damaged crops worth 1.7 billion pesos (US$35 million), mainly rice and corn, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
Around 5.6 billion pesos worth of bridges, roads and public buildings were damaged, data from the public works ministry showed.
A resident walks along a mud-covered road after floodwaters due to Typhoon Goni rose of their village in Batangas city, Batangas province, south of Manila, Philippines on Nov 2, 2020. (Photo: AP/Aaron Favila)
Before Goni hit, the Philippines had been grappling with the impact of Typhoon Molave, which killed 22 people, most of whom drowned, in provinces south of Manila.
Vietnam said Goni is forecast to hit its central coast on Wednesday night, dumping more heavy rain within an area where floods and landslides in the past month have already killed about 160 people, with dozens missing.
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