Strongest typhoon of 2020 nears Philippines, evacuation process started

Philippine officials on Saturday directed the removal of thousands of citizens in the south part of the central Luzon island as a category 5 cyclone that is the world’s most powerful this year nears the Southeast Asian country.

Typhoon Goni, with 215 kilometre-per-hour (133 miles) packed winds and breezes of up to 265 kph (164 mph), will cause landfall on Sunday as the most active typhoon to hit the Philippines after Haiyan that killed more than 6,300 people in November 2013.

Pre-emptive evacuations have begun in coastal and landslide-prone communities in the areas of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. At the same time, Albay regional government would direct residents in dangerous neighbourhoods to vacate their homes, Gremil Naz, local disaster authorities told.

“The power of this typhoon is no laugh,” added Gremil Naz.

Typhoon Molave last week killed 22 people, mostly through causing flooding in areas south of the capital Manila, which is also in the proposed path of Goni, the 18th tropical cyclone in the nation

Officials are suffering another hurdle as social distancing necessitates to be forced in evacuation stations to limit the spread of coronavirus.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the second-highest number of COVID-19 contaminations at around 380,000 people infected and over 7,000 deaths, next only to Indonesia.

Assistance goods, heavy tools and personal protection equipment are already positioned in key regions, Filipina Grace America, mayor of Infanta town in Quezon region.

“But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our supplies for disaster concerns and expenses are deficient.”

Local officials suspended port and prevented fishermen from arranging sail.

Typhoon Goni, moving westbound at 20 kph (12 mph) from the Pacific Ocean, will cause excessive rains over the capital and 14 regions nearby on Saturday evening, and warnings of floods and landslides, according to the nation's climate agency.

Another typhoon, Atsani, is growing energy just outside the Philippines. Around 20 storms hit the Philippines every year.