Super Typhoon Pepito devastates Catanduanes

Metro Manila, Philippines — Catanduanes saw massive devastation on Sunday, Nov. 17, after Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) battered the province overnight.

Pepito made landfall in Panganiban, Catanduanes at 9:40 p.m. Saturday, packing at that time maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 325 kph.

Before the landfall, coastal towns of Catanduanes experienced storm surges.

By Sunday morning, residents of Panganiban witnessed the situation. Powerful winds toppled trees and houses made of light materials not only in their town but across the province.

Morris Aquino, a 26-year-old resident of Barangay San Juan, Panganiban said there was no electricity and telecommunications in their area in the aftermath of Pepito.

“Meron po mga lumikas kagabi. Pero karamihan dito sa town proper as early as 6 a.m. nagsibalikan na sa kanya-kanyang lugar nila para makapag-ayos at ma-recover ‘yong ibang mga gamit nila,” he told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: There were residents who evacuated last night. But many in the town proper returned to their houses as early as 6 a.m. to fix and recover their things.]

In Bagamanoc, videos posted by the local government showed damaged roofing of a church and a basketball court.

In Viga town, local disaster management officials had to hold their office’s collapsed ceiling as others rushed to move and cover equipment.

On their Facebook page, the disaster management officials called on higher authorities, asking that they be given an office that can withstand typhoon winds.

“Nakakalungkot isipin at makita na ang opisina mo ang isa sa biktima,” they wrote.

[Translation: It’s sad to think and see that our office is one of the victims.]

A landslide was also reported in Baras.

In a video posted on social media, Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua said responders raced to evacuate residents on Saturday.

“Mas marami ang apektado ngayon dahil sa hagupit ni Pepito at sila ay mangangailangan ng mga bagay para sa kanilang food, shelter, clothings, medicines, at iba pa,” former Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento said in a Facebook post.

“Andyan siyempre ang tulong na manggagaling sa mga LGUs (barangay, munisipyo at Kapitolyo), DSWD at mga iba pang indibidwal at grupo na may kagandahang loob,” Sarmiento also said.

Pepito is the sixth tropical cyclone to successively hit the country in a month.

Around 852,000 individuals have been affected by “Nika” (international name: Toraji), “Ofel” (international name: Usagi), and “Pepito,” according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.