Northern Philippines submerged after Typhoon Man-yi forces dam release

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 -Hundreds of homes were submerged in northern Philippines on Monday as floodwaters engulfed communities following the release of water from Magat Dam. The release came after Super Typhoon Man-yi caused the Cagayan River to breach its banks.

Typhoon Man-yi, packing winds of 185 km/h, made landfall on Catanduanes Island late Saturday before sweeping across Luzon on Sunday, marking the sixth major storm to hit the country in a month. The typhoon brought torrential rains, destroyed homes, and left at least eight people dead.

President Ferdinand Marcos noted Monday, November 18, that the storm's impact was less catastrophic than feared, but its aftermath continues to devastate communities. As residents began cleanup efforts, areas near Tuguegarao City and Ilagan City experienced severe flooding, with rooftops barely visible above the water.

In Ilagan City, disaster committee chairman Jun Montereal warned of dire consequences if Magat Dam continues to release water through all seven gates. Over 500 homes were reported flooded, with Montereal describing the situation as one of the gravest the city had faced. Dam operations official Carlo Ablan explained that the water release was necessary to prevent a potential collapse of the structure due to massive inflows from the typhoon.

The storm claimed lives across the region, including seven victims buried by a landslide in Nueva Vizcaya and a motorcyclist in Camarines Norte caught in a fallen power line. The island province of Catanduanes, which bore the brunt of Man-yi, reported extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, with power outages expected to last for months.

As the storm weakened into a severe tropical storm and moved toward Vietnam, over a million displaced Filipinos grappled with the aftermath of what has been an unprecedented month of violent weather.

Climate experts have linked the increased storm intensity to climate change, with the Philippines enduring an unusual streak of extreme weather events. At least 171 people have died in storms over the past month, leaving thousands homeless and devastating crops and livestock. Meteorological agencies also noted a rare phenomenon this November, with four simultaneous storms in the Pacific basin, a first in recorded history since 1951.