Typhoon Usagi Weakens as Typhoon Man-yi Threatens Manila

Typhoon Usagi, known locally as Ofel, weakened significantly by Friday after causing widespread destruction in the northern Philippines. The storm, which made landfall in the coastal town of Baggao, Cagayan province on Thursday afternoon, uprooted homes and displaced residents. Authorities are now bracing for another powerful storm, Typhoon Man-yi, expected to impact Manila and surrounding regions over the weekend.

This was the 15th cyclone to strike the Philippines this year. Officials are already focused on Typhoon Man-yi, which continues to strengthen in the western Pacific. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services agency of the Philippines (Pag-asa) forecasts that Man-yi could become a super typhoon by Sunday.

While no fatalities have been reported from Usagi, thousands of residents in at-risk areas were evacuated ahead of the storm. In Cagayan province, Rueli Rapsing, head of the local disaster relief office, reported that damage assessments were ongoing.

“More homes have been damaged, either partially or completely, following Typhoon Marce,” Rapsing said on Friday. "Our teams are still evaluating the full extent of the destruction."

Preemptive evacuations in the path of Typhoon Man-yi will begin on Friday. Pag-asa said that the storm’s center was located about 795 kilometers east of Guian, a municipality in Eastern Samar. Authorities have warned of potential storm surges reaching up to 3 metres in coastal areas of central provinces.

Usagi is the sixth storm to impact the Philippines this month, primarily affecting Luzon. Earlier this month, Typhoons Trami and Kong-rey caused devastating floods and landslides, claiming 162 lives, with 22 people still missing, according to government data.

The Philippines is experiencing a particularly active typhoon season, as the western Pacific is seeing an unusual number of storms. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that four storms are simultaneously active in the region, a phenomenon not observed since 1951. On average, the Philippines faces about 20 tropical storms each year, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and landslides that frequently cause loss of life.