Philippines stockpiles food, evacuates towns as Typhoon Yinxing threatens Northeast

The Philippines has ordered its citizens in the Northeast region to stockpile foods and evacuates towns as part of precautionary measures in anticipation of arrival of Typhoon Yinxing later this week.

According to the Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), officials announced the preparations on Tuesday, as the storm is forecasted to hit northeastern towns, potentially bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reports that a storm system is currently located at a distance of 590 kilometers (367 miles) east of Baler, Aurora Province, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour).

The Defence Secretary, Gilberto Teodoro urged immediate evacuation of residents in remote areas that may be rendered inaccessible by the storm.

He emphasized that timely action is crucial to safeguarding public welfare and preventing potential casualties.”

“Teodoro announced that multiple government agencies have joined forces to issue timely warnings, strategize in advance, and deploy essential goods and services to ensure public safety and preparedness for potential disasters,” Arise News reported.

“Military personnel are on standby to provide support for rescue operations, while reservoirs are proactively releasing water to mitigate the risk of flooding and minimize potential damage to surrounding areas.”

The spokesperson for the Philippine weather agency, Nathaniel Servando, stated that the Typhoon Yinxing is forecasted to make landfall between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Civil Defence Administrator, Ariel Nepomuceno cautioned that roughly 24 million individuals may be directly impacted by the storm, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and preparedness.

“The Philippines is experiencing an unprecedented series of severe weather disturbances, with this storm marking the third major threat to the country within a month.”

“Between October 20 and 25, 2024, storms Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-rey ravaged Luzon Island, causing 151 fatalities and leaving 21 people missing.”

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the storms destroyed over 10,000 homes and displaced 50,000 residents

Teodoro noted “our experiences have informed critical adjustments to our processes, enhancing the government’s capacity for effective response.”

The Philippines is annually affected by approximately 20 tropical storms, which bring along severe weather conditions including heavy rainfall, strong winds, and frequent landslides.

This makes the country one of the most typhoon-prone nations in the world, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) playing crucial roles in disaster preparedness and response.

Know about Philippines

The Republic of the Philippines has its capital in Manila with over 114 million population in 2022. Its official languages are Filipino and English and its currency is Philippine Peso (PHP).

Geography of Philippines

Philippines is located around Archipelago with 7,641 islands with land area of 300,000 km².

Mountain Mayon Volcano and Mount Apo are located in the country. The Pasig River and Cagayan River are found in the Philippines.

Climate in Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical climate with three seasons, tag-init (hot), tag-ulan (wet), and amihan (cool) and it is prone to typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Culture­ of Philippines

It is influenced by Spanish, American, Chinese, and Malay cultures. It observes festivals like Sinulog, MassKara, and Panagbenga.

Economy

The nation operates a mixed economy with its major industries including agriculture, manufacturing, and services. It exports electronics, semiconductors, garments and has over $394 billion GDP in 2022.

Government

It operates as a presidential, constitutional republic. The president is the head of state and government.

It also operates a bicameral legislature with Senate and House of Representatives and a supreme court.

Tourism

Tourism centers in the Philippines include popular destinations like Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, White Beach, El Nido, Intramuros, Fort Santiago, Chocolate Hills and Mayon Volcano.

Challenges

The country is faced with poverty, corruption, climate change, and traffic congestion.

Infrastructure

The Philippines means of transportation include jeepneys, tricycles and buses. NAIA and Cebu International are airports found in the country.

Sports

It plays basketball, the most popular sport, and engages in boxing. Manny Pacquiao is a notable boxer from the nation. Philippine Azkals is its national team.

Typhoons in the Philippines

It experiences average annual typhoons about 20 times in a year. Typhoon season is from June to November. Notable typhoons are Haiyan, Goni, and Mangkhut.

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