The Philippines is accelerating emergency measures as super typhoon Mawar, renamed “Betty” by local authorities, heads towards the island of Luzon. The storm is expected to have the greatest impact in the north of Luzon, where the capital Manila is located. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has reported sustained winds of up to 195 kilometers per hour. Evacuation plans have been accelerated, and flights have been cancelled in preparation for the storm’s arrival. Betty is the second tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2023 and the first super typhoon to do so.
The Pagasa expects “Betty” to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the northern islands of Luzon, including provinces such as Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, as well as the Batanes archipelago. The highest volume of rainfall is expected to occur between Monday morning and Tuesday morning. These factors have led to the acceleration of evacuation plans as authorities aim to lessen the possible effects of the typhoon.
The Philippines is no stranger to super typhoons. The country experiences multiple tropical storms and typhoons each year, but the “El Niño” phenomenon has made this year an even more active season. The phenomenon is caused by the warming of Pacific waters and leads to an increase in cyclones. The Philippines is expecting up to ten tropical cyclones to enter its monitoring area this year.
In conclusion, the Philippines authorities have accelerated their preparations for the arrival of super typhoon Mawar, renamed “Betty”. Evacuation plans have been put into place, and flights have been cancelled as the storm is forecasted to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the northern islands. The Philippines has experienced multiple tropical storms and typhoons, but the “El Niño” phenomenon has made this year’s season particularly active.
