Janice R. Andrews
The Philippines has issued evacuation orders, readied emergency supplies, and put military personnel on standby as Typhoon Yinxing approaches. The storm, with winds reaching 120 kph (75 mph), was located 590 km from Baler, Aurora, as reported by the state weather agency, PAGASA, on Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated that people in remote areas should evacuate ahead of the storm’s arrival, as it may be difficult for rescue teams to reach them during the storm. Authorities have coordinated with multiple agencies to provide early warnings, position necessary supplies, and plan for any potential emergencies. Troops are ready to assist with rescue operations, and dams are releasing water to mitigate flooding risks.
Typhoon Yinxing is expected to make landfall in Cagayan province between Thursday evening and Friday morning, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. Civil defense officials warn that around 24 million people could be directly impacted. This marks the third major storm to affect the Philippines in recent weeks, following Storm Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-rey, which caused 151 deaths and left 21 people missing.
Teodoro emphasized that the government has strengthened its disaster response systems, learning from previous storms that often lead to severe flooding, landslides, and strong winds. The Philippines faces an average of 20 tropical storms each year, making continuous disaster preparedness a key priority.
