The typhoon Usagi made landfall this Thursday in the north of Filipinas accompanied by wind gusts of up to 240 kilometers per hourstated the Philippine Meteorological Agency (PAGASA), becoming the fifth consecutive tropical storm that the Asian country has suffered in less than a month.
The cyclonic storm, known locally as Ofel, hit the northern province of Cagayan around 1:30 p.m. local time (5:30 GMT) and will continue moving in a north-northwest direction towards the Philippine Babuyan Islands.
PAGASA pointed out that Usagi weakened shortly before making landfallthus going from the category of super typhoon to being considered simply a typhoon, and hit the coast with sustained winds of up to 175 km/h and gusts of up to 240 km/h.
Cagayan authorities ordered this Thursday the forced evacuation of areas at risk of suffering floods and avalanches in the province, which, like other regions in the north of the country, has been affected by the passage of five consecutive cyclones previous in a short period of time.
Trami, known locally as Kristine, made landfall in the northern province of Isabela on October 23, leaving 139 dead. A few days later, Super Typhoon Kong-Rey hit the Philippines again, causing authorities to raise the 162 deceased by both cyclones.
Typhoon Yinxing left more than 40,000 affected in the north of the countrywhile Toraji made landfall on Monday in the northern province of Aurora, causing material damage and forcing authorities to evacuate some 32,000 people. These last two consecutive storms left no fatalities.
After the impact of Usagi, the Philippines has already issued an alert for the approach of a new tropical storm, Man-Yi, which could make landfall in the north of the country during the weekend. Locally named Pepito, PAGASA said it will continue to gain strength and could become a typhoon tomorrow.
The Philippines experiences about 20 typhoons and tropical storms per yearespecially in the rainy season, which usually begins in June and ends in November or December.
(With information from EFE)
