PHILIPPINES: A tropical storm called Neneng that made landfall early on Sunday in the northern Philippines has intensified into a major typhoon, according to the weather bureau. The typhoon also brought moderate to heavy rains to the area, submerging low-lying regions like villages and farmlands.
The disaster monitoring agency had previously alerted locals about the incoming typhoon. Consequently, nearly a thousand people were evacuated and taken to higher ground for shelter.
A resident of Claveria town in Cagayan province, which is located 600 kilometres (380 miles) north of the nation’s capital Manila, posted a video of the area’s extensive flooding and partially submerged home, as well as footage of trees swaying in the brisk winds.
Nesat, which has winds of 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour, could become even stronger when it approaches the South China Sea, according to the weather service.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Twitter that government assistance was on the way to all affected communities. The government is “watching closely” the effects of the tropical storm, particularly in the northern part of Luzon.
“Government assets are in place to deal with the aftermath and ensure the primary needs of those affected, especially food, safe drinking water, and electricity,” the President wrote on Twitter.
The tropical depression maintained its strength before dawn on Saturday, with maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour and gustiness of winds up to 70km/h. Neneng is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2022 and the second for October.
On Sunday, moderate to heavy rains are expected in Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur. Over the rest of the Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region, light to moderate rains with occasional heavy downpours are expected.
Meanwhile, some domestic flights scheduled on Sunday were cancelled due to bad weather caused by the storm.
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