Typhoon Usagi Forces Thousands to Evacuate in the Philippines

AFP/APP

Manila: Typhoon Usagi made landfall in the northern Philippines on Thursday, prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of residents from coastal areas.

Striking the town of Baggao in Cagayan province with winds reaching 175 km/h (109 mph), Usagi is the fifth typhoon to impact the country in three weeks.

The national weather service initially issued the highest storm alert but later downgraded it as the storm advanced.

Usagi is expected to cause “considerable damage” to structures, uproot large trees, and bring “intense to torrential rain” along with coastal waves up to three meters high over the next two days.

This series of severe storms has already claimed 159 lives, leading the United Nations to request $32.9 million in aid for affected areas.