MANILA: Northern Philippines was battered by strong winds and heavy rain as Typhoon Doksuri made landfall on Wednesday, causing rivers to overflow and leaving thousands without electricity.
The storm’s fury prompted the evacuation of residents in coastal communities, anticipating its destructive impact.
With wind speeds reaching up to 175 kilometres per hour (108 miles per hour), Typhoon Doksuri is predicted to maintain its strength as it continues its trajectory toward Taiwan and China. The storm’s power has already wreaked havoc in the northern Cagayan province, with Governor Manual Mamba stating, “We are being battered here,” although, fortunately, no casualties have been reported yet.
The typhoon’s arrival resulted in the suspension of sea travel, leaving more than 4,000 passengers stranded at various ports across the country, as reported by the Philippine coast guard. Authorities have issued storm warnings in multiple parts of Luzon, the northern island housing nearly half of the Philippines’ 110 million population. The warnings include potential storm surges, landslides, and infrastructure damage, urging residents to remain vigilant and prepared.
Locally known as Egay, Doksuri is the fifth storm to strike the Southeast Asian nation this year. The Philippines is accustomed to enduring an average of 20 typhoons annually, a fact that highlights the country’s vulnerability to such natural disasters. Adding to concerns, scientists have warned that global warming may exacerbate future storms, making them even wetter, windier, and more violent.
Categorized as a super typhoon on Tuesday, Doksuri had slightly weakened by Wednesday. However, authorities remain cautious as it heads toward Taiwan before its projected landfall in China’s Fujian province on Friday, as forecasted by the Philippines weather bureau.
