Typhoon Goni hits Philippines,7 killed, one million evacuated

A super typhoon has barrelled into the eastern Philippines bringing “catastrophic” winds and intense rains as about a million people were evacuated in its projected path including in the capital, Manila, where the main international airport was ordered closed. Officials said at least seven people had been killed. About 350,000 to flee their homes as it slammed into the eastern part of the Philippines early Sunday.  Philippines’ disaster risk-monitoring agency said 8 lakh people fled their homes in Albay province in the main Luzon island and 2 lakh more were evacuated in nearby provinces.

Super Typhoon Goni brought “catastrophic violent winds” when it made landfall over Catanduanes province before dawn Sunday, before weakening as it crossed the main island of Luzon. “Goni is the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone” in history, said Jeff Masters, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections and co-founder of Weather Underground. The previous record was held by Super Typhoons Meranti and Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in 2016 and 2013 respectively. Manila’s international airport has been shut for 24 hours from 10 am local time.

#Goni is one of the strongest landfalls on record, anywhere. The pictures will be grotesque when the sun comes up... https://t.co/F8hAFwsHtC

— Eric Blake ???? (@EricBlake12) October 31, 2020