Typhoon Nika made landfall in the Philippines' northeastern Aurora province on Monday after thousands were ordered to evacuate ahead of the fourth typhoon to hit the country in a month.
Nearly 700,000 people are still sheltering at evacuation centres or with relatives after their homes were destroyed by tropical cyclones Trami, Kong-rey and Yinxing, according to government figures.
The typhoon, internationally knows as Typhoon Toraji) made landfall with sustained winds of up to 130 kilometers (81 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 180 kph (112 mph), the typhoon was expected to barrel northwestward across Luzon, weaken as it crosses a mountain range and then blow into the South China Sea.
More than 2,500 villages had been ordered to evacuate their homes on Sunday ahead of the typhoon's landfall.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that the last two storms claimed 159 lives, damaged thousands of homes and farmland, and affected nearly nine million people.
Nika is the 14th weather disturbance to impact the country this year and is highly prone to natural disasters.
After Toraji, a tropical depression could also potentially strike the region as early as Thursday night, weather forecaster Veronica Torres told AFP.
Tropical Storm Man-yi, currently east of Guam, may also threaten the Philippines next week, she added.
TROPICAL CYCLONE BULLETIN NR. 14
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) November 11, 2024
Typhoon #NikaPH (TORAJI)
Issued at 2:00 PM, 11 November 2024
Valid for broadcast until the next bulletin at 5:00 PM today.
“NIKA” IS NOW OVER CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
TC Bulletin Link: https://t.co/nnqaHxRl7o
Weather Advisory Link:… pic.twitter.com/V4TxbTqOJA
xxx
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