Super Typhoon Megi Makes Landfall in the Philippines
- 14 years ago
Super typhoon Megi slams into the northern Philippines, cutting off power and forcing airlines to cancel flights. Fortunately the category five storm weakened as it made landfall.
The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has made landfall.
Super typhoon Megi slammed into mountains in Isabela province on Monday, with heavy rains and winds of 225 kilometers per hour.
However weather bureau officials said the category five storm had lost some of its strength.
[Vicente Malano, Pagasa Weather Bureau]:
"As the typhoon made landfall, as long as it hits the ground, because of what we call the friction effect, it will partially weaken."
But the typhoon, known locally as Juan, was still strong enough to blow away roofs of houses and uproot trees.
Some residents chose to wait out the typhoon in their homes.
But more than 3,000 people in Cagayan province were evacuated from low lying coastal areas late Sunday, spending the night instead in a local gymnasium.
The typhoon has claimed at least one life, a farmer who drowned in a swollen river while pulling water buffalo to safety.
While the full extent of the typhoon's impact is not yet known, eyewitnesses on the ground expect extensive damage to property and agriculture.
Local officials believe around 63,000 metric tons of rice will be lost, during what is the peak of the harvest season.
The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year has made landfall.
Super typhoon Megi slammed into mountains in Isabela province on Monday, with heavy rains and winds of 225 kilometers per hour.
However weather bureau officials said the category five storm had lost some of its strength.
[Vicente Malano, Pagasa Weather Bureau]:
"As the typhoon made landfall, as long as it hits the ground, because of what we call the friction effect, it will partially weaken."
But the typhoon, known locally as Juan, was still strong enough to blow away roofs of houses and uproot trees.
Some residents chose to wait out the typhoon in their homes.
But more than 3,000 people in Cagayan province were evacuated from low lying coastal areas late Sunday, spending the night instead in a local gymnasium.
The typhoon has claimed at least one life, a farmer who drowned in a swollen river while pulling water buffalo to safety.
While the full extent of the typhoon's impact is not yet known, eyewitnesses on the ground expect extensive damage to property and agriculture.
Local officials believe around 63,000 metric tons of rice will be lost, during what is the peak of the harvest season.