Philippines evacuates thousands as Super Typhoon Man-yi nears

President Marcos directs authorities to hole for ‘worst-case scenario’, pinch millions astatine consequence from large wind surges.

The Philippines has ordered nan removal of hundreds of thousands of group and cancelled dozens of flights arsenic a “potentially catastrophic” typhoon – nan sixth large wind successful a period – approaches nan archipelago.

Packing winds of 240km/h (149mph), Man-yi was upgraded to a ace typhoon by authorities upwind agency PAGASA.

“Pepito is approaching its highest intensity,” nan agency said, utilizing nan section sanction for nan large wind that was expected to make landfall adjacent nan state of Catanduanes connected Saturday nighttime aliases early connected Sunday.

It warned of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation” for nan cardinal region of Bicol, wherever astir 180,000 group person been evacuated.

Man-yi was heading towards nan eastbound portion of nan main land of Luzon, prompting PAGASA to raise its highest Category 5 alert for Catanduanes and Category 4 for nan bluish portion of Camarines Sur province.

Both provinces are still recovering from nan deadly Tropical Storm Trami, which deed nan state successful precocious October.

The politician of Naga metropolis successful Camarines Sur imposed a curfew from midday connected Saturday successful a bid to unit residents indoors.

Civil defence administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr directed each authorities agencies “to hole for nan worst-case scenario” successful areas wherever Man-yi is expected to hit.

In 1 removal centre successful Catanduanes, much than 400 group were squeezed into nan provincial authorities building successful nan capital, Virac, pinch caller arrivals being sent to a gymnasium, provincial disaster serviceman Roberto Monterola told nan AFP news agency.

Man-yi has already forced nan cancellation of dozens of flights successful nan eastbound Visayas region facing nan Pacific Ocean.

The upwind agency warned of vulnerable large wind surges that could transcend 3 metres (10 feet) successful coastal areas of Luzon.

Torrential rains are expected successful immoderate provinces chiefly successful cardinal Philippines.

About 20 tropical storms deed nan Philippines each twelvemonth connected average, bringing dense rain, beardown winds and deadly landslides.

In October, floods and landslides brought by Tropical Storm Trami and Typhoon Kong-rey killed 162 people, pinch 22 others reported missing, authorities figures show.

Four storms, including Typhoon Usagi, churned successful nan occidental Pacific Ocean astatine nan aforesaid clip successful November for nan first clip since records began successful 1951, according to nan Japan Meteorological Agency.

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Al Jazeera and news agencies